New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
Date

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

John W. Garrigan, Assistant Attorney General
Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
john.w.garrigan@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3643

Jean Michael Coutu Sentenced for Unlicensed Electrical Installations

Concord, NH – New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Jean Michael Coutu, 63, of New Ipswich, was sentenced today by the Hillsborough County Superior Court – Northern District on one Class A misdemeanor count of Unlicensed Electrical Installations.

The Superior Court sentenced Mr. Coutu to 12 months in the House of Corrections, all of which is suspended for a period of five years. The Court also imposed a $2,000 fine, of which $1,000 is suspended for five years. Furthermore, Mr. Coutu must complete 100 hours of community service within one year and may not have any contact with the owners of the Peterborough residence.

Following a two-day trial, Mr. Coutu was convicted on August 17, 2021, for making electrical installations without being licensed to do so at a residence in Peterborough, New Hampshire between September 13, 2018 and October 18, 2018.

On July 28, 2021, Mr. Coutu's co-defendant, Einar Barenholtz, pleaded guilty to one Class A misdemeanor count of Accomplice to Unlicensed Electrical Installations. The Superior Court sentenced Barenholtz to 6 months in the House of Corrections, all of which was suspended for a period of 2 years, and a $2,000 fine, of which $1,500 was suspended for a period of 2 years. The sentence is conditioned on Barenholtz not engaging, using, employing hiring, or supervising any unlicensed worker, laborer, contractor, or subcontractor, whether independent or otherwise, who is otherwise required to be licensed by any state or federal entity to perform the work or task that that worker is performing. Further, Barenholtz may not engage in any trade or commerce as a contractor, either general or sub, without obtaining the proper permits as required by the federal, state, or municipal governments for that trade or commerce. Barenhotlz must complete 40 hours of community service and is prohibited from having contact with the homeowners.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General John Garrigan and Greg Albert of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau. This case was investigated by Investigator Frederick Lulka of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, State Electrical Inspector Denis Laurendeau of the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, and the Peterborough Police Department.

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