New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
November 6, 2020

Contact:
Kate Giaquinto, Director of Communications
kate.giaquinto@doj.nh.gov | 603-573-6103

Heather A. Cherniske, Assistant Attorney General
heather.cherniske@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

Joshua L. Speicher, Attorney

Charges Filed Against Former Berlin Police Officer Philip Pelletier for Violation of Privacy

Concord, NH – Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announces that complaints have been filed with the Coos County Superior Court charging Philip Pelletier, age 31, with five class A misdemeanor counts of violation of privacy, RSA 644:9.

The complaints allege that Mr. Pelletier, while employed as a Berlin Police Officer, took a picture and videos of an adult male, without his consent, while that male was in a patient room at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin. Mr. Pelletier, who was working as a police officer on an overtime shift at the hospital, was supervising the adult male while he was being held pending an involuntary emergency admission to the New Hampshire State Hospital.

It is anticipated that Mr. Pelletier will be scheduled for arraignment at a future date by the Coos County Superior Court.

Each misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in the house of corrections and a $2,000 fine.

Mr. Pelletier is no longer employed as a police officer with the Berlin Police Department and his law enforcement certification was revoked by the New Hampshire Police Standards & Training Council on January 28, 2020.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Heather A. Cherniske and Attorney Joshua L. Speicher of the Criminal Bureau. The initial investigation into this matter was conducted by the Grafton County Sheriff’s Department, and further investigation was conducted by Criminal Bureau Investigator Allison Vachon.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations. Mr. Pelletier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658