LACONIA — The trio arrested on Wednesday on charges of possessing various narcotic drugs and conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine remain in Belknap County Jail in lieu of cash bail following their arraignment in 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division yesterday.
Judge Jim Carroll set cash bail for Joel Paquette, 42, who is charged with three counts of possession and one of conspiracy, all class B felonies, at $10,000 while Don Doucet, 40, and Christy Jarrell, 29, both charged with one count of possession and conspiracy, were each held on $5,000 cash bail. All three are scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing on June 3.
According to the affidavit of Deputy Justin Blanchette of the Belknap County Sheriff's Department, the arrests stemmed from surveillance of apartment 6 at 21 Academy Street, where information led him to suspect drugs were being sold and methamphetamine was being made.
While watching the building, which is right across the street from the Belknap County Courthouse, Blanchette says in papers filed with the court he saw a man enter the apartment around 11:30 a.m. and leave on a bicycle about an hour later. He reported that he approached the man, who agreed to speak with him and identified himself as Paquette. Blanchette said that since Paquette showed signs of methamphetamine use, including "body sores, healing burns, a sunken face, poor oral hygiene and a general unhealthy appearance," he asked to check him for drugs.
Paquette agreed. Blanchette found nothing on his person, then noticed a water bottle on his bicycle, which he said held only water, but agreed to let him remove it from the bicycle. When Blanchette shook the bottle, something rattled inside it. Paquette said he did not know what it was, but on Blanchette's request agreed to open it. Inside Blanchette found a prescription bottle containing a dozen oxycodone tablets and 30 diazepam (valium) tablets along with traces of methamphetamine.
After Paquette was arrested he asked Blanchette to take the bicycle to his girlfriend, Jarrell, at apartment 6.
According to Blanchette, Doucet, who rents the unit, answered the door, said that Jarrell was there and invited him in. Once in the living room Blanchette said that he saw "in plain view on the floor" pseudoephedrine, ammonium nitrate and coffee filters, which he described as "materials to make methamphetamine.
Blanchette said that when Doucet sat on the couch there was a mirror with white powder, a pen shaft and cotton on it. The pen shaft field tested positive for methamphetamine, he said. Doucet was arrested for the drugs and paraphernalia on the mirror as well as a hypodermic needle, which he said he used to inject drugs.
Blanchette said that Jarrell, who also showed signs of drug use, when asked admitted "to being a methamphetamine addict and quitting just a day ago when a one-pot meth lab exploded and burned her neck." Asked if she had any drugs, she led Blanchette to her bedroom where she said "I don't know. let me dump out my purse." When a pipe, which field tested positive for methamphetamine, fell out. she too was arrested.
According to the affidavit, after all three were read their Miranda rights, Paquette said that he cooked methamphetamine in the woods and there was no working meth lab in the apartment while Jarrell said that she knew he had the materials to make methamphetamine and was about to do it.
Although Doucet consented to a search of the apartment, Blanchette applied for a search warrant.
Despite Paquette's admission, Fire Chief Ken Erickson stood by, together with Ladder 1, Engines 1 and 2 and an ambulance while officers wearing respirators and carrying a gas meter entered the apartment to conduct the search. In addition to what Blanchette reported finding, other materials and equipment for manufacturing methamphetamine as well as several hypodermic needles were found throughout the apartment in the course of the search.
At the arraignment only Paquette was represented by counsel. Prosecutor Jim Sawyer told the court that Paquette, a native of Laconia, recently returned to New Hampshire from West Virginia and, though living with a relative on Mechanic Street, has no stable residence and a tenuous connection to the city. He also has a criminal history dating from 1991, which includes robbery and assault along drug offenses.
Tearful when Carroll set cash bail, Jarrell also came for West Virginia about a month ago and has no fixed address.
"I didn't know that stuff was at my house," Doucet told the court, prompting Carroll to remind of his right not to incriminate himself. He moved to the city from Franklin some six weeks ago and, like Paquette, has a criminal history dating from 1998.

BELMONT — Shaker Regional School Board members learned last night that because the district food services program gets reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ice cream socials, pizza parties or any other activity that uses food as a reward or a punishment will no longer be allowed.
Administrators said serving such treats on school property — and this includes selling candy bars for fundraisers or cupcakes for birthdays — are forbidden.
"This is not going to be well received," said Debbie Thompson, the school district business administrator who, along with Superintendent Maria Dreyer, recommended communication with parents immediately.
Dreyer said she is concerned with the cinnamon buns scheduled to be served at the upcoming senior breakfast.
"We need to start now," Dreyer said, noting she doesn't think cinnamon buns are on the wellness nutrition chart. Thompson noted that should the district be found to be non-compliant in the future it could loose all its USDA food reimbursement.
School Board members, who are noted for serving food at school board meetings including pizza some months and sandwiches, cookies, and fruit at others, were incredulous but agreed that the district couldn't jeopardize their federal food reimbursements.
Thompson said a second piece of the audit indicated all elementary school students who get free or reduced lunch must take three of the four items offered to them — including a fruit or a vegetable.
Should a student only take two items, he or she would be charged an a la carte price that would not be federally reimbursable.
The third audit item identified and addressed was forbidding students to take any refunds from their lunch accounts for use in any of the vending machines. The only refunds allowed according to the state and federal nutrition authorities are for when a student leaves the school and is in possession of a letter from their parent or guardian.
Thompson recommended a change in the student handbooks regarding refunds.
In other business, the School Board authorized the creation of a half-time athletic director position. The director would serve both the middle and high school at a salary not to exceed $30,000. Not budgeted for 2013-2014, Dreyer explained that the stipend for the high school athletic director for $10,000 would be applied to the position and she said she has money in personnel lines from shifting employment within the district to fund the balance.
The board also authorized elevating girls lacrosse to a varsity-level sport with NHIAA acceptance. For three years, girls lacrosse has been a club. The program will continue as a pay-to-play sport until the next budget cycle when the School Board will determined if the program, that costs about $4,500 annually should be included in the 2014-2015 budget.

LACONIA — Nathan Daubenspeck began shining shoes on the suggestion of his father, Jim, who owns Labelle's Shoe Repair in downtown Laconia.
Jim wanted his 13-year-old son to pick up a work ethic and to learn a little about business. One thing Nathan has learned is that it's good to have a corner on the market.
"I learned not a lot of people do it. People say, you're shoe shining? I haven't seen that in a while!" said Nathan, who started in September of last year, setting up his chair and shine box on the sidewalk in front of his father's Main Street shop every other Friday. Now that foot traffic is picking up downtown for the summer season, Nathan, alternating duties with his brother Derek, will offer sidewalk shoe shines with greater frequency. Derek will be shining shoes this and next Friday, while Nathan will be back on duty on June 7. 
There will be a sign posted in front of Labelle's when on-the-spot shines are available. If not, customers can always drop off shoes to be shined and picked up later. The Daubenspeck boys charge $4 for a shine.
In addition to shining shoes at Labelle's, Nathan also heads over to the Laconia Police Department at the afternoon shift change to give officers a fresh shine. "It feels good because they're doing something for us, so we can do something for them."
"I really appreciate it," Nathan said of his new trade. "I like how you're able to take a trashed shoe and make it much better." He also likes how shoe shining gives him a break from his home schooling. "It's really fun. I get to hang out with my dad."
Nathan added, "Anyone who needs a shine can come see me or my brother."

CAPTION for SHOE SHINE in AA:
Nathan Daubenspeck shines the shoes of Tyler Emond on the sidewalk in front of Labelle's Shoe Repair in downtown Laconia. Daubenspeck, and his brother Derek, will be offering the old-fashioned service more often this summer. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)