North Haverhill
Laramie, who resigned in February 2016 and gave up his education credentials in October of the same year, is alleged to have diverted school funds for personal purposes, while misrepresenting that he was using the funds for professional development, four times between January 2014 and March 2016, according to charges filed on Friday.
Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis said it took a while, but his department was able to put together a case based on “credible information that a crime had occurred.”
“Anytime when you have public funds that are misused by someone that’s accountable for those funds, it’s something that you should address,” Dennis said. “Hopefully justice will be served.”
Two of the theft counts are Class B felony charges, which cover amounts between $1,000 and $1,500, while the other two are Class A felony charges, which are amounts in excess of $1,500. If convicted, the 50-year-old Laramie — whom court records indicate now lives in Massachusetts — could face a fine, probation and time in the New Hampshire State Prison.
Dennis’ department finished its work late last year and the case has been in the County Attorney’s Office since then, he said.
Grafton County Attorney Lara Saffo, reached by phone on Tuesday, declined to comment on the case at this time “because it’s a pending matter.”
The school district previously had declined to pursue charges in the case after the district’s insurance company cut a check for $33,850 in the summer of 2016.
“The School Board’s initial interest was recouping the monies that were lost and that has been accomplished,” then-SAU 70 Superintendent Frank Bass said in August 2016.
Superintendent Jay Badams said on Tuesday that he was surprised to hear of Laramie’s indictment and that the criminal charges were not something being pursued by the SAU.
“As far as the SAU was concerned, the matter was settled,” Badams said.
Reached by phone on Tuesday, Laramie said he also was surprised to learn of the indictments.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “ … Clearly I don’t have any comment.”
A LinkedIn profile for Laramie indicates he now runs a business called 1637 Tavern Tours, which offers participants a glimpse into 17th-century tavern life in Salem, Mass. He also works at an Italian restaurant in Beverly, Mass., and is doing some freelance writing, according to LinkedIn.
In October 2016, Laramie was found guilty in Lebanon District Court of soliciting prostitution in Canaan. During a sting operation by the Canaan Police Department, Laramie offered to pay undercover Canaan police officer Samuel Provenza for sex acts.
As part of a plea deal in that case, Laramie pleaded no contest to a violation instead of the Class B misdemeanor he originally faced. He also received a $500 fine. He voluntarily surrendered his education credentials that same day.
Nora Doyle-Burr can be reached at ndoyleburr@vnews.com or 603-727-3213.
