New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
December 15, 2023

Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375

Joe M. Fincham II, Assistant Attorney General
joe.m.finchamii@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

David M. Lovejoy, Assistant Attorney General
david.m.lovejoy@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-3671

State of New Hampshire v. Mark Brave, 219-2023-CR-00863

Concord, NH – New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announces that former Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been indicted by the Strafford County Grand Jury.  Mr. Brave was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on August 17, 2023.

The indictments allege that Mr. Brave committed eight felony offenses.  Mr. Brave is charged with one count of Theft by Deception (a class A felony) for stealing over $1,500.00 in Strafford County funds for credit-card reimbursements through deception; two counts of Falsifying Physical Evidence (both class B felonies) – one for submitting false reimbursement justifications, and one for altering a document submitted for reimbursement; and five counts of Perjury (all class B felonies) for lying in his testimony before the Strafford County Grand Jury during the course of the investigation.

Class A felonies are punishable by up to 7½-to-15 years in state prison and a fine of up to $4,000.00.  Class B felonies are punishable by up to 3½-to-7 years in state prison and a fine of up to $4,000.00.

The charges against Mr. Brave are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Mr. Brave is currently released on a personal-recognizance bond.  The next scheduled court hearing in his case is a dispositional conference on January 30, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. before the Rockingham Superior Court.

This case is being investigated by New Hampshire Department of Justice investigators and  prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Joe Fincham and Assistant Attorney General David Lovejoy of the New Hampshire Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Unit.

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