Higher Bail For NH Man Who Was Freed By Mistake
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire judge Thursday increased bail for a man police say committed several robberies and a burglary in Concord, including the alleged theft of checks from a construction company where he used to work, in the two days after he was mistakenly freed from prison.
"I do believe you are a danger to the public," Concord District Court Judge Gerard Boyle told 44-year-old James Rand of Concord, after raising his bail from $60,000 to $80,000.
Police charged Rand on Monday with robbing a convenience store clerk at knifepoint late Sunday night.
After obtaining a search warrant for the car and apartment of Rand's daughter, with whom he stayed over the weekend, police say they found evidence tying him to two other crimes over the weekend.
On Wednesday, police charged Rand with a second robbery count. They say he struck a woman repeatedly and wrestled her purse from her in a Walmart parking lot just half an hour before they say he robbed the Cumberland Farms convenience store.
Police also charged him with burglary after they found about 150 company checks belonging to Brix & Stix, a construction company, among clothing Rand had stored at his daughter's apartment. Court documents state that Rand formerly worked for the company.
Rand was paroled March 30, after corrections officials failed to realize that after serving a sentence for forgery, he was supposed to be transferred to the county jail to await prosecution on a charge of receiving stolen property.
Gov. John Lynch has ordered an investigation into how the mistake occurred.
Parole board director John Eckert has taken full responsibility for the mistake since Rand was arrested Monday.
Eckert declined Thursday to comment further on Rand's case. "I don't want to in any way impair the investigation," he said.
He said he did not believe any other mistaken releases of inmates had occurred in the 19 ½ years he overseen the parole board.
Rand's record dates back to 1989, when he was convicted of multiple charges including first-degree assault.
According to Department of Corrections records, Rand has also been convicted and incarcerated in the past on charges of first-degree assault and robbery, burglary, multiple parole violations, burglary and receiving stolen property, violating parole and being a habitual offender.
Rand is being held at the Merrimack County House of Corrections. He participated in Thursday's court hearing via video-conferencing.
He is due back in court April 12 for a probable cause hearing.
Public defender Emma Sisti, who represents Rand, declined to comment on the charges.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
