Newport
Monique Earle was arraigned on Wednesday in Newport’s Sullivan Superior Court on the two felony charges she was indicted on in mid-December: criminal solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder. If convicted, she could serve up to 60 years in prison.
A contested bail hearing was held in court on Wednesday.
Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway, who is prosecuting the case, argued for $100,000 cash bail, something a district court judge instituted at a bail hearing in early December but later was downgraded to personal recognizance bail.
Judge Brian Tucker on Wednesday sided with defense attorney Kathryn Polonsky, who argued to keep personal recognizance bail in place.
Earle currently is residing at the Harbor House Shelter in Nashua, N.H., according to court documents.
Earle was living in a domestic violence shelter in Sullivan County when she allegedly hatched the plan, police said. She was arrested in late November.
According to an affidavit, police set up an undercover operation targeting Earle after another woman at the shelter informed them about Earle’s alleged plot.
Earle allegedly offered to give an undercover officer $500 and a designer handbag in exchange for having Amber Florence murdered. Earle said her boyfriend had left her for Florence and that Florence had “ruined her life,” the affidavit said.
Prior to the alleged incident, Earle unsuccessfully sought a restraining order against Florence, the affidavit said.
Earle will next appear in the Newport courthouse on Feb. 10.