Laconia man to serve at least 4 years for dangerous weapons and assault charges

LACONIA — A Laconia man who has admitted to being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon was sentenced to at least four years in prison yesterday.

Ryan Tuttle, 27, of 9 Bay St., Laconia, received a three- to six-year sentence in State Prison for being in possession of a switchblade when police arrested him in January when they went to a Gilford residence to quell a reported disturbance.

Tuttle was also ordered to serve a one- to two-year suspended sentence imposed earlier on a charge of assault by a prisoner when he assaulted a fellow Belknap County Jail inmate with a blow dart. That sentence will be served after he completes his sentence for the dangerous weapons charge.

He was issued a 12-month suspended sentence for a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest in connection with the January incident that occurred Jan. 28 at 23 Saltmarsh Pond Road.

Tuttle had pleaded guilty to the dangerous weapon and resisting arrest charges on March 23.

In arguing for the four- to eight-year prison term Assistant County Attorney Adam Woods told Superior Court Justice James D. O’Neill III that Tuttle had “amassed a record of serious, violent crimes, over the past seven years.”

“It’s clear the defendant has used up the good will that this court has offered him. He doesn’t belong out in our community,” Woods told the judge.

But Tuttle’s lawyer, John Bresaw, argued for a much lighter 12-month sentence, saying that many of Tuttle problems can be traced to a tough childhood, that included sexual abuse, as well mental health troubles he currently suffers from.

“He doesn’t need to be warehoused (in prison) and treated like an animal,” Bresaw said. “He made a bad decision in split seconds.”

Bresaw acknowledged that Tuttle had the switchblade when police arrested him, but he said that Tuttle had picked up the knife during the violent commotion inside the house to make sure that no one else would use it.

After the sentencing, Woods and Belknap County Attorney Andrew Livernois said they were pleased with the sentence and were glad the judge showed consideration for the safety of the community.