A Rindge resident has filed a complaint with the Cheshire County Commissioners, upset with the way the Cheshire County Attorney’s Office handled a recent case in town.
Patricia Martin emailed the commissioners on Monday, expressing her frustration with the Cheshire County Attorney’s Office for not pursuing a felony-level charge against Larry Cleveland, who on Aug. 15 pleaded no contest to a violation-level charge of disorderly conduct after allegedly brandishing a hand gun during a December road rage incident.
Martin emailed the commissioners in the hope that they would look into the matter, as well as addressing the “issue” of a recent law change, rescinding the requirement for concealed carry permits.
“If people are allowed to pull guns on others, we’re back in the Wild West,” said Martin, in a recent interview. “I don’t feel safe in my town and I don’t want to have to start carrying a gun to defend myself.”
In her complaint, which was emailed to each of the commissioners, Martin said she “strenuously” objects to the fact that the case was not prosecuted as a felony.
“I don’t fight people’s Second Amendment rights, but if they use that right to threaten the rights of others or to intimidate fellow citizens, they MUST be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Martin, in her complaint.
Martin said she initially filed a complaint with the town against Town Prosecutor Vint Boggis, but was later told that it was not his decision to pursue a misdemeanor level criminal threatening charge (Cleveland was found guilty on the lesser charge of disorderly conduct, with the misdemeanor charge of criminal threatening being dropped).
In a recent interview with the Ledger-Transcript, Keith Clouatre, an attorney with the Cheshire County Attorney’s Office, said no charges were pursued on his end, as it was determined that there wasn’t strong enough evidence to bring a case against Cleveland to trial.
While Cleveland’s alleged victims said he pulled a gun on them – police found out after the road rage incident that Cleveland was in possession of a gun – Cleveland has argued that he pointed a black gloved hand at them.
“If he had pointed a gun at me, I’d be suing for therapy for PTSD for months,” said Martin, in her complaint. “The State of NH wants permitless concealed carry? Fine, but if these gun enthusiasts start threatening unarmed citizens with their weapons, I expect our prosecutors to do more than charge them with disorderly conduct!”
Martin then attempted to file a complaint with the Cheshire County Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, but couldn’t find a way to file such a complaint. It was then that she decided to reach out to the commissioners.
Martin forwarded the Ledger-Transcript an email from Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Weed, who said he has asked for her concerns to be placed on the agenda for an upcoming meeting.
Weed did not return a request for an interview by press time.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.