Former Barnstead cop to claim corporal punishment defense in child abuse case

The trial for a former cop accused of child abuse, domestic violence and witness tampering is set to begin in Belknap Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 20. 

Joan Glancy, 42, of Barnstead, is invoking a corporal punishment defense in her case, according to court records. She was indicted in Belknap Superior Court in February, and has remained in custody at the jail since March 19, 2025.

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. She’s represented by attorneys Michael Iacopino and Kristopher DeLorme of Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey, who did not return repeated requests for comment. 

At the time of her alleged crimes, Glancy was training as a police officer with the Barnstead Police Department. In paperwork submitted to the court requesting a lawyer in October 2024, Glancy stated she was unemployed.

According to the indictments, Glancy used force in physical contact with a minor victim, pushing their head and holding it under water between March and October 2024, resulting in injury; and forced a minor victim to run for an extended period of time with no pants, resulting in blistering. 

She’s also accused of witness tampering, after allegedly attempting to interfere with testimony during the investigation by telling someone to “get [their] story straight” or risk retaliation, in speaking with staff of the state Division for Children, Youth and Families.

In April 2025, Deputy County Attorney Erin Barnes notified Glancy and the court of the prosecution's intent to seek a long imprisonment sentence. The filing notes Barnes intends to introduce evidence Glancy was aware the victims of her alleged crimes were minors under age 13.

According to a probable cause statement submitted to support an arrest warrant, State Troopers were notified by DCYF staff in September 2023 they’d received a report from a day care center suggesting a child was abused by a Barnstead Police officer. A day care worker told police that a child had injuries and may have been 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. 

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

After 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 — a later hearing, held on March 19, 2025, resulted in Glancy being ordered to jail ahead of trial.

Glancy notified the court she may rely on the physical force by persons with special responsibilities defense, pursuant to state law. According to the language of that law, RSA 627:6 (I), 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 cruise to Bermuda and another trip to Berlin, and the alleged victims were out of state on another referenced occasion.

The case was originally scheduled for jury selection on Sept. 22, 2025.