Concord
However, none of those five legislators will be charged due to lack of evidence, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
State Reps. Joseph Lachance, of Manchester, and Pamela Tucker, of Greenland, bought marijuana from Tasker, according to the attorney general’s report. Three others communicated with Tasker about marijuana, including Reps. Amanda Bouldin, of Manchester; Ted Wright, of Sanbornville; and Shem Kellogg, of Plaistow. Kellogg died in June after a battle with cancer.
The attorney general’s report said it found no evidence of “pervasive illicit drug transactions at the State House or among elected officials.” The representatives who were interviewed during the investigation said they only bought or discussed marijuana and weren’t aware Tasker was selling other drugs. He is accused of selling or possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms, MDMA and buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid used to treat drug addiction.
Tasker was indicted in June on drug and sexual exploitation charges by a Rockingham County jury.
Tasker faces 13 felonies in all. He is charged with four counts of certain prohibited uses of computer services after he allegedly used a Facebook account to lure a 14-year-old girl into a sexual encounter in Northwood, N.H., according to indictments.
He also faces six counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute, and one count each of felonious use of a firearm, conspiracy to sell or distribute a controlled drug and possession of ecstasy.
Police have said a search of Tasker’s home uncovered “vast amounts” of controlled drugs, including marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, ecstasy, hash oil and buprenorphine.
At the time of his March arrest, Tasker was serving on the Children and Family Law Committee; before that, he was a member of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
He resigned from the Legislature following his arrest.
House Speaker Shawn Jasper said legislators take an oath to uphold the state’s laws and Constitution.
“Any member of the House who has knowingly committed a criminal offense should consider whether their actions have compromised the dignity and integrity of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, or have done a disservice to their constituents,” Jasper said. “There are no charges, and therefore no criminal proceedings, but the voters will decide whether or not the representatives running for re-election deserve their votes.”
