A 34-year-old New Ipswich man is facing witness tampering and assault charges involving a 12-year-old victim.
Nathan J. Kaarto, of 75 Locke Road, was indicted by a grand jury in Superior Court on June 20 for allegedly pushing the child onto a couch and into an iPad, which caused a “severe laceration…which required stitches,” according to Superior Court documents. About four days later, Feb. 3, Kaarto allegedly told the child to lie about how the injury happened.
Two days after that, Kaarto allegedly forced the child to work out so hard for several hours that blood vessels burst in the child’s neck.
Kaarto is facing a second-degree felony assault charge for the push and a class A misdemeanor charge for forcing the child to exercise.
The misdemeanor charge could mean imprisonment of one year and a fine no higher than $1,200. Felony charges carry prison sentences of up to 7 years and afines of $4,000.
A probable cause hearing was held April 18 in the 8th District Court in Jaffrey to move the case to Superior Court. The name of the alleged victim was listed in the district court file, but is being withheld from this report.
Attempts to reach Kaarto by telephone were unsuccessful.
A person who answered the phone at Kaarto’s listed number in New Ipswich said they knew Kaarto, but said it was a wrong number. The person would not identify themselves or give a number for Kaarto.
Attempts to speak to the New Ipswich Police Department about the case were also unsuccessful.
Chief Tim Carpenter, who returned from medical leave Monday, directed questions to Lieutenant Michael Abel, who directed questions back to the chief.