Concord, NH – Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announces the indictment of Brian Jeffery Strouth, (age 49) of Pittsfield by the New Hampshire Multicounty Grand Jury on one Class A felony count of theft by unauthorized taking and one Class A felony count of theft by deception. Mr. Strouth has also been charged with one Class A misdemeanor charge of unfair or deceptive business practices, and one Class B misdemeanor charge of forgery. All four charges are pending in the Belknap County Superior Court.

The theft by unauthorized taking charge alleges that between August 21, 2019, and October 2, 2019, Mr. Strouth obtained or exercised unauthorized control over more than $1,500 belonging J.S. (age 69), with a purpose to deprive her of the funds. Mr. Strouth was authorized to use J.S.'s funds solely for the design and installation of a septic system on J.S.'s property, and he instead used those funds for unrelated purposes.

The theft by deception charge alleges that on August 22, 2019, Mr. Strouth obtained or exercised control over more than $1,500 belonging to J.S. using deception, with a purpose to deprive her of the funds. The charge alleges that Mr. Strouth created the impression that he would use her funds for the design and installation of a septic system, which he knew was false.

The unfair or deceptive business practices charge alleges that between August 21, 2019, and October 2, 2019, Mr. Strouth, in the conduct of trade or commerce within the State, in relation to the design and installation of a septic system at J.S.'s property, purposely used unfair or deceptive acts or practices including, but not limited to, falsely stating to J.S. that he intended to install a septic system; making ongoing misrepresentations to J.S. as to why he could not install the system; and presenting a forged septic permit application to J.S.

The forgery charge alleges that on or about September 16, 2019, Mr. Strouth made, completed, or uttered a writing – a State permit application for an individual sewage disposal system – purporting to be the act or acts of another, with a purpose to defraud.

Class A felonies are punishable by up to 7 ½ -15 years at the New Hampshire State Prison and/or a maximum fine of $4,000 for each charge. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to 12 months in the House of Corrections and/or a maximum fine of $2,000. Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to a $1,200 fine.

The indictments and charges are merely accusations, and Mr. Strouth is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John W. Garrigan of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau and Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit.