Barnstead police officer indicted on child abuse charges

A Barnstead police officer charged with assault, domestic violence and witness tampering is invoking an obscure corporal punishment defense in her case.

Joan Glancy, 40, of Center Barnstead, was indicted in Belknap County Superior Court in February on charges of witness tampering, domestic violence and assault for her alleged role in the abuse of several children. 

An indictment is not an indication of guilt. Rather, it is a finding by a Grand Jury that enough evidence of an alleged crime exists to warrant bringing a case to trial.

At the time the alleged crimes occurred, Glancy was in training to become a Barnstead police officer. It’s not clear if Glancy is still employed by the department. In a form submitted to the court requesting a lawyer, Glancy noted on Oct. 28, 2024 she was unemployed. 

“We have no comment,” Barnstead Town Administrator Karen Montgomery said Thursday morning when asked if Glancy remained employed by the town.

According to the indictments, Glancy used force in physical contact against a minor victim, pushing and holding their head underwater between March and October 2024, causing an injury; and forced a minor victim to run for an extended period of time without pants on, causing blistering over the same time period.  

She’s also accused of witness tampering when, believing proceedings or an investigation was pending, she attempted to interfere with testimony, when she allegedly told a person to “get her story straight” or risk not seeing their siblings again regarding information relayed to the state Division of Children, Youth and Families.

A probable cause statement supporting an arrest warrant, submitted by State Trooper Michael Andres, states officers were notified by DCYF staff on Sept. 23, 2024 that they’d received a report from a day care center suggesting a child was physically abused by a Barnstead police officer.

A worker from the day care center told police a child came to the day care with a scabbed-over split lip and other injuries, including multiple bruises in various stages of healing and told workers, when prompted, a family member caused the injuries. The worker also told police they suspected the child was food-deprived. 

Police visited the Glancy residence and spoke with an adult male who indicated the bruises were caused by playing in the yard. Glancy was not home, because she was attending the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council, the police academy. 

On Oct. 16, 2024, police spoke with a guidance counselor at Barnstead Elementary School, who told officers the children appeared to be disheveled at school, wearing the same clothes for multiple days in a row with messy hair. The children came to school with blisters due to running as punishment. 

Two days later, a safety plan was put into place, and the maternal grandparents would take custody of the children. Glancy later arrived at the grandparents’ residence, and was instructed not to have contact with the children. The safety plan was put into effect until Oct. 25, 2024.

At the direction of the Belknap County Attorney’s Office, State Police took over the investigation. Glancy was charged and arraigned on Oct. 28, 2024, represented by a lawyer from New Hampshire Public Defender in Belknap County.

Following a bail hearing in November 2024, Glancy was released on a promise to return to court, and ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victims, not to leave the state, not to possess weapons or ammunition, and to refrain from excessive use of alcohol and drugs.

Glancy later notified the court she may rely on the physical force by persons with special responsibilities defense, pursuant to RSA 627:6 (I). According to the language of that law, individuals with children or others who depend on them for their care have special rights to use force. 

“Parents, guardians and others taking care of children are justified in using force when they reasonably believe the use of force is necessary to prevent or punish misconduct,” the July 30, 2025, court filing reads, in part. 

An alibi filed with the court the same day notes Glancy was a police recruit at both the 197th and 198th police academies, between June 17 and Oct. 25, 2024, attending portions with no overnights and other portions with overnight stays. Further, the notice of alibi defense states Glancy was not in New Hampshire over some periods of the alleged crimes, including a vacation and another trip to Berlin, and the alleged victims were out of state on another referenced occasion.

“At the time of the alleged offense, the Defendant was on a trip from April 19, 2024 through April 26, 2024 via a cruise to Bermuda,” the notice reads, in part.

Attorney Michael Iacopino of Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey, who is representing Glancy, was out of office and not immediately available for comment on the case.

The case, originally scheduled for jury selection on Sept. 22, is continued until decisions on the motions filed. A motion hearing is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27.