Attorney General Joseph A. Foster and United States Attorney John P. Kacavas announce that three waivers of indictment charging Edward Arsenault with theft by unauthorized taking have been filed today in Hillsborough County Northern District and Rockingham County. The Hillsborough County waivers provide:

1. Between January 1, 2005 and March 15, 2013, Edward J. Arsenault, III, did commit the crime of theft by unauthorized taking, in that he knowingly exercised unauthorized control over the property of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester, a corporation sole (Bishop), with a purpose to deprive the Bishop thereof. The aggregated amount of the theft exceeding $1500.
2. Between February 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, Edward J. Arsenault, III, did commit the crime of theft by unauthorized taking, in that he knowingly exercised unauthorized control over the property of the Catholic Medical Center (CMC), with a purpose to deprive CMC thereof. The aggregated amount of the theft exceeding $1500.

The Rockingham County waiver provides:

1. Between June 13, 2010 and February 8, 2012, Edward J. Arsenault, III, did commit the crime of theft by unauthorized taking, in that he knowingly exercised unauthorized control over the property of the Estate of Reverend Monsignor John E. Molan (Molan Estate), with a purpose to deprive the Molan Estate thereof. The aggregated amount of the theft exceeding $1500.

In addition to the waivers of indictment, a notice of intent to enter a plea of guilty was filed by Arsenault. The terms of the negotiated plea provide for the following recommendations to the sentencing court:

1. Theft by Unauthorized Taking (Roman Catholic Bishop)
   4-10 years at the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed. Two years of the minimum sentence suspended for two years in recognition of the extensive cooperation of the defendant. Full restitution to be paid to the victim.
2. Theft by Unauthorized Taking (Molan Estate)
   1-2 years at the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed. This sentence will run concurrent with the sentence imposed above. Full restitution to be paid to the victim.
3. Theft by Unauthorized Taking (Catholic Medical Center)
   4-10 years at the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed. Two years of the minimum sentence to be deferred for two years, then suspended for five years, conditioned upon the defendant's continued cooperation. This sentence will run consecutive to the sentences imposed above. Full restitution to be paid to the victim.

The parties requested that the Rockingham County charge be consolidated and transferred to Hillsborough County-Northern District for a plea and sentencing hearing. The Hillsborough County Northern District Superior Court has scheduled the hearing for 9:00 a.m. on April 23, 2014.

While the filing of the waivers of indictment conclude the investigation into Arsenault's criminal conduct, the State's investigation will continue.

The State will not be providing any further information regarding these charges or the ongoing investigation until the plea and sentencing hearing.