Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and New Hampshire State Police Colonel Christopher Wagner announce the arrest of David O. Pook (age 47) of Warner, New Hampshire on two counts of witness tampering and two counts of conspiracy to commit perjury.

On July 13, 2017, Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announced that he had initiated a criminal investigation into St. Paul's School. The investigation commenced:

as the result of a 2017 report concerning sexual assaults by St. Paul's teachers on their students; earlier information about student sexual conquest rituals such as the "senior salute", a practice which led to the highly publicized arrest, trial and conviction of a St. Paul's School student; and allegations of a similar issue in June 2017.

While the investigation initially focused on whether the school engaged in conduct constituting endangering the welfare of a child contrary to RSA 639:3; and violations of RSA ch. 642, the Obstructing Governmental Operations Chapter of the criminal code, the investigation was also to include any other crimes as dictated by the evidence. Today's arrest was one such crime.

Mr. Pook taught at St. Paul's School for eight years but left under questionable circumstances in 2008. Since 2009, he has been employed at the Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire. The investigation focused on Mr. Pook's relationship with a female student at St. Paul's School while he was a teacher at the school. As part of the investigation, the female and Mr. Pook were called before a grand jury. Based on testimony and other evidence gathered, arrest warrants were issued charging Mr. Pook with witness tampering and conspiracy to commit perjury.

At this juncture pursuant to court order, the name of the female as well as other witnesses are being withheld for 90 days in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Mr. Pook is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in the Merrimack County Superior Court on March 15, 2018.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.