Charlestown Man Pleads Not Guilty To Pool Business Theft Charges

Newport — Former Charlestown Selectboard member Doug Ring waved his formal arraignment last week but entered not-guilty pleas with the court in connection with theft charges related to his former pool and spa business.

A judge released Ring on $10,000 personal recognizance bail, according to court documents.

The charges against Ring stem from accusations that he accepted deposits from two couples, one for a pool kit and one for a spa, but never followed through with the order or delivery of the items. The charges allege that he acted deceptively or mislead his customers, according to the indictments.

Ring also pleaded guilty to two unlawful business practice charges, which are related to the same two transactions.

On Tuesday, Ring appeared before a Cheshire County judge in Keene, N.H., for a contested bail hearing.

Assistant Attorney General John Garrigan, who is prosecuting the case, said via email on Wednesday that the hearing was held regarding whether a firearms prohibition would be included in Ring’s bail conditions.

The judge allowed Ring access to his firearms, citing his lack of a prior criminal record and the fact that his current charges are not violent in nature, Garrigan said.

Ring’s next court hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled.

Because of a conflict with Sullivan County Judge Brian Tucker, Ring’s court case has been transferred to Cheshire County.

Two Injured in Three-Car Route 4 Crash

Quechee — A mother and her 11-month-old son were transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries following a three-car chain-reaction crash on Route 4 in Quechee Tuesday afternoon.

Preliminary investigation shows that Paul Boles, of Sharon, rear-ended Troy Potter, of Wilder, who was stopped on Route 4 at the time, according to a Hartford Police Department news release.

Hartford Deputy Chief Lenny Roberts said Potter may have been stopped because the vehicle in front of him was waiting to turn onto Center of Town Road, a left-hand turn just past Charlie Brown’s power equipment.

The impact of the crash caused Potter’s vehicle to cross the center line and roll into the oncoming path of a vehicle driven by Kate Riley, of Woodstock.

Riley and her son were transported to DHMC, the release said.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Tuesday’s crash happened within two weeks of when Vermont Agency of Transportation officials paved over about eight sections of rumble strips, which were laid down following a string of fatal accidents on Route 4 in 2013 but recently were covered up following noise complaints.

There were no rumble strips in the area of Tuesday’s accident because it was near an intersection, Roberts said.

Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Defrauding Town of Enfield Sentenced to 9 Years

Boston — Daniel Thibeault, a former fund manager and Dartmouth College alumnus convicted of fraud, was sentenced to nine years in prison last week.

The town of Enfield has invested a fifth of its capital reserve, or about $300,000, in one of Thibeault’s companies, and the money remains frozen as a civil case unfolds.

Thibeault pleaded guilty to securities fraud and obstruction of justice in March over a scheme to make fake loans from his former company GL Capital Partners. Last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin sentenced him to a term of 108 months.

Thibeault was also ordered to make a $15.3 million restitution and undergo three years of supervised release, according to court documents.

He is required to report to prison on July 28

— Staff reports