March 28 Sunday, 2004

UNH students face charges; pounds of marijuana found
By BRIAN DEKONING
Union Leader Correspondent.

DURHAM -- Police have seized more than $10,000 in hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and ecstasy and made several drug arrests in the second wave of drug busts near the University of New Hampshire since January.

Six people, including four UNH students, were charged in a sweep that began in February, according to police.

Police said they also confiscated a 1997 Range Rover and $4,380 in cash. Durham Deputy Police Chief Rene Kelley declined to comment on exact amounts of drugs seized but estimated there were “pounds of marijuana and mushrooms” and several tablets of ecstasy.

Kelley said the arrests were part of an investigation into illegal drug trafficking that has lasted more than three months. Police announced the busts yesterday.

On Jan. 23, police announced they had arrested 10 people, including several Oyster River High School students and at least one UNH student, in a drug sweep in which police seized more than $25,000 in drugs, $3,000 in cash and a $4,000 car.

“There is some connection to the previous drug investigation,” Kelley said yesterday. “Certain aspects are connected, but not all of them, certainly.”

According to Durham police, the UNH students charged include:

·         Joelle A. Hanna, 22, of 17 Madbury Road, Durham, on a Class A misdemeanor of possession of a controlled drug;

• Kelsey Hoontis, 20, of 17 Madbury Road, Durham, on a Class B felony of possession of a narcotic drug;
• Eric E. DeJoy, 19, of 114 Hall House, Durham, on a Class B felony of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute;
• Liam Scofield, 20, of 145 Main Street, Newmarket, on three Class B felonies, including sale of a controlled drug and possession of a hallucinogenic mushrooms, and a Class A misdemeanor of possession of a controlled substance.

After arraignments in Durham District Court on March 18, Hanna and Hoontis were released on personal recognizance bail of $500 and $1,000, respectively.

Dejoy and Scofield were each released on $7,500 personal recognizance bail and scheduled for court dates of April 1 and 15, respectively.

Police also confiscated Scofield’s 1997 Range Rover and have begun forfeiture procedures. Kelley said the SUV would be used for drug enforcement if police legally obtain ownership.

Two Massachusetts men who are not UNH students were also arrested.

·         Garrett M. Joyce, 18, of 32 Manomet Avenue, Hull, Mass., was charged with two Class B felonies of possession with intent to distribute hallucinogenic mushrooms and possession of a controlled drug.

• Christopher N. Erickson, 20, of 27 Hunter Lane, Canton, Mass., was charged with the Class B felony of possession with intent to distribute a controlled drug.

Joyce and Erickson were both released on $15,000 personal recognizance bail after arraignments in Durham District Court on March 18.

Kelley said local police are also working with “a Massachusetts police department” which he would not name to investigate a source of the illegal drugs.

“The drugs they had in their possession did in fact come from Massachusetts,” Kelley said of Erickson and Joyce.

All of those charged in the latest sweep were arrested between Feb. 21 and this week, according to Kelley. None of the arrests happened on UNH’s campus and none of the alleged sales took place on UNH property.

DeJoy was the only person charged who lived on campus. Kelley would not comment on whether police had seized money or drugs from Hall House, the dormitory where DeJoy lives.

DeJoy was arrested on Main Street in Durham. Hanna was charged at her apartment. Hoontis turned herself in to police and Scofield was charged after a traffic stop on Route 108, according to police.

Joyce and Erickson were charged after a traffic stop on Route 4, according to Kelley.

UNH Spokesman Kim Billings said she had not heard of the arrests until being contacted by a reporter yesterday evening. She said officials will review possible discipline for students involved.

“We will work closely with Durham police and when the time is right, we’ll bring students through the student conduct process,” Billings said.

Durham police have also contacted Strafford County Attorney Janice Rundles’ office regarding the recent drug arrests, according to Kelley.

During a press conference to announce the first round of drug busts in January, police said undercover officers made several small drug “buys” around town, including from an employee at a downtown convenience store.

But Kelley declined to comment on whether undercover officers had been used to gather evidence in the latest sweep.

“The investigation is ongoing,” he said. “I would anticipate further arrests.”

Durham police were assisted in the drug investigation by Newmarket police, UNH police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Kelley also said the January bust was the largest he had seen in his 17 years on Durham’s police force. When asked yesterday if there is a drug problem in town, Kelley said he attributed more drug arrests to different police tactics.

“I don’t know that there are any more drugs but I do think the Durham Police Department is becoming more effective at uncovering them,” he said.

Hilarious

(19 hours ago)

Hahaha

Xxxxxxxx

The Dr, (18 hours ago)