|
I think there is more to this.
One thing that concerns me, is there were no charges on the BEA end. New Hampshire requires a $300,000 bond and registration with the State.
Yes Luvonda, they are Asshats!
Police: Trio handcuffed, interrogated woman Three, including Marblehead man, say they are bounty hunters
By Angeljean Chiaramida
Staff writer
—
Three Hampton, N.H., residents who said they are bounty hunters have been charged with felonies after a woman said they cuffed her and held a gun to her head to press her for information.
Nicholas Theisen, 55, formerly of Marblehead, and Robert Zucchari, 38, were indicted yesterday at Hampton District Court in Seabrook, N.H. They are charged with felony criminal restraint for allegedly holding Christine Zamora in her Hampton apartment on Feb. 14. Also arraigned yesterday was Jeaninne Anno, 28, charged with criminal liability for conduct of another, also a felony, in relation to the incident. All three suspects and the victim have listed addresses of an apartment building at 7 I St. in Hampton.
According to the police report of Hampton Detective Barry Buczek, on Feb. 14, the three knocked on the door, then forced their way into Zamora's apartment when she answered. Identifying themselves as "bail recovery agents while presenting gold police-style badges," Zamora told police, Zucchari entered her apartment pointing a black semiautomatic pistol at her head. He then handcuffed her hands behind her back and prevented her from leaving.
Zamora said Theisen also had a semiautomatic handgun in a hip holster and acted as guard while Anno and Zucchari questioned her. They demanded to know the names of several people they'd seen entering her apartment earlier that day, Zamora said. She told them she only knew the first names of the people they referenced, but the three defendants allegedly held her, questioning her aggressively for about 15 minutes. After that, they uncuffed her hands and left her apartment.
Hampton police prosecutor Joseph Galvin, who handled the arraignment, said finding bounty hunters in Hampton is probably a first for the department. Galvin said Zucchari produced credentials identifying him as a federal bail agent, but police had not yet been able to verify them.
Police said bail agents are supposed to follow certain protocols, and these three did not.
"We've never encountered bounty hunters up here before," Galvin said yesterday. "In court they said they'd been living up here in Hampton for about six months. I think they told the judge they came from somewhere in Massachusetts before moving here."
Zucchari is from Boston, and Anno is from Malden.
Galvin said warrants were issued for the three after Zamora reported the incident and police investigated. Police picked them up Thursday.
Police also have the testimony of Gregory Konopka, the property manager at 7 I Street, concerning the alleged incident. His testimony corresponds with Zamora's account.
Konopka said Zucchari — wearing a gold badge on his unzipped jacket and with a black, semiautomatic pistol visible in his shoulder holster — asked him to accompany him to Zamora's apartment. The intent was for Konopka to witness their interrogation of Zamora, Konopka told police.
Konopka confirmed Zamora's hands were handcuffed behind her back when he got to her apartment and that Theisen also had a gun in his hip holster.
Konopka said Zucchari yelled and screamed at Zamora, demanding the names of the individuals who'd been in her apartment. When she denied knowing the names, Zucchari grew increasingly frustrated and angry, Konopka said, violently shoving her down onto the sofa. Zucchari told Zamora that if the subject he sought returned to the property, he would arrest them, Konopka told police.
According to Konopka's testimony, Anno — Zucchari's girlfriend, also wearing a gold badge — questioned Zamora, as well. Her manner was so aggressive, Konopka said, that Zucchari pulled her away from Zamora and told her to leave the room.
Konopka said the incident continued for about 15 minutes, after which they took the handcuffs off Zamora and left.
Hampton District Court Judge Francis Frasier ordered the three held at Rockingham County House of Correction on bail pending their March 10 probable cause hearing. Anno and Theisen are held on $5,000 cash bail. Zucchari's bail is $10,000 cash and $10,000 personal recognizance.
Galvin said that, if convicted, each could face from 31/2 to seven years in jail.
Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
|
