Teen charged with Kimball Castle arson held in jail before trial

Joshua Pittman, accused of helping burn down the historic Kimball Castle, is held in jail before trial, at the request of Deputy County Attorney Erin Barnes, who cited the severity of the case.

Peyton Eastman, 20, of Rochester, and Pittman, 19, of Somersworth, were both indicted for arson of an occupied or historic structure. Eastman is alleged to have started the fire, and Pittman is accused of assisting.

Arson of a historic structure is a felony and holds a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and a $4,000 fine.

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.

Eastman and Pittman are charged for their roles in the alleged arson of the Kimball Castle, a building at 59 Lockes Hill Road in Gilford, on the National Registry of Historic Places that was torched in the early morning hours of Aug. 27, 2025.

The structure was built in the 1800s, and while it was mostly stone, wood inside ignited. The building was demolished due to its condition and being deemed hazard.

An affidavit shows Eastman allegedly set the fire by burning a Twisted Tea cardboard box, and setting fire to a chair cover, which eventually destroyed the castle. Pittman is alleged to have assisted in keeping the fire alive. The affidavit shows there were allegedly other minors with them. Pittman was 17 at the time of the incident, and turned 18 on Sept. 29, 2025.

A school resource officer at Kingswood Regional High School reported on Sept. 5, 2025, that a student received a Snapchat message from Eastman around the time of the fire. The message included a black screen with white text saying Eastman lit the Twisted Tea box near “Welcome to Hell” graffiti at the Kimball Castle. The fire got out of control, and he was unable to be put out.

The student told investigators they had been with Eastman and Pittman in Laconia, along with a girl, until about 1 a.m., before Eastman, Pittman and the girl left the city. A warrant for their Snapchat accounts was obtained on Sept. 23, and on Oct. 7. The results of three search warrants showed geolocation data putting Pittman and Eastman within 40 meters of the castle's address between 12:21 and 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2025.

Photographs and video recordings of Pittman and Eastman, with two girls, were recovered from the Snapchat records. Eastman and Pittman were allegedly shown starting and fueling the fire inside the castle. The first recording allegedly showed Eastman lighting the cardboard box, placing it on a wooden chair, then moving the lit box near a wooden railing. Investigators said there were no efforts to extinguish the blaze shown in the videos.

Other videos allegedly depict Pittman throwing four long pieces of wood to Eastman, who was standing on the second story landing, so they could keep the fire going. Another recording includes a girl saying the place was “gonna burn down,” and they were in trouble.

Eastman and Pittman were taken into custody by the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office, after investigators obtained an arrest warrant on Sept. 8.

Pittman's case

The case was elevated to Belknap Superior Court following the indictment. Pittman appeared without an attorney on Friday morning. Barnes went over the details of the case with Judge Jonathan Frizzell, who appeared remotely from Coos Superior Court. She alleged the fire was intentionally set, and the property had a fence around it, clearly marked with “no trespassing” signs.

Barnes noted there was an “extensive investigation” that led to the charges.

“The state believes this is extraordinarily serious behavior,” Barnes told the judge. “This was intentionally set, apparently for fun from what it appears from the videos that we have. It was intentionally set where there were underage kids with these two adult males setting this fire that endangered people in the community.”

Barnes said the fire spread to grasslands around the castle, near a guest house often used as a rental property for retreats. The guest house was vacant at the time, investigators said, and was not damaged.

She requested Pittman be held in jail before trial, due to his role in the “complete destruction of the castle.” She called it “incredibly dangerous activity.”

“The state believes that this conduct endangers the community, endangers the defendant himself in terms of the conduct he engaged in,” Barnes said.

Frizzell addressed Pittman, who was without a lawyer at the hearing. Court records show he applied for a court-appointed attorney on Oct. 9, the day of the hearing.

He suggested Pittman not comment on the case, and asked who he lived with. Pittman said he lives with his mother and 24-year-old brother in Somersworth, and has been a department manager at McDonald’s, in Portsmouth, for the past year. He told the judge he works full-time, usually 40 to 50 hours per week, pays rent at his household, and takes care of his dog.

Frizzell asked if he has his own car, which he does. Pittman was driven to court Friday by his brother.

Barnes said if he were let out on bail, he should have no contact with Eastman, or the owners of the Kimball Castle property.

Frizzell granted the state’s request to have Pittman held at the Belknap County Jail.

“At this stage, the natures of the charges and the facts as articulated by the state, I am going to hold you,” Frizzell said. “I find that the state’s carried its burden of proof, so you’re going to be detained. I will mark on the bail order that you’re entitled to an evidentiary bail hearing. By that point, you’ll have a chance to hopefully have spoken with counsel.”

Frizzell said he has decades of experience, and is sure there are more facts than what was being disclosed, which are relevant to the situation.

Pittman requested to speak, which Frizzell allowed.

He told the court he was a minor at the time of the alleged incident.

“Well, that’s an important fact you need to bring up with your attorney,” Frizzell said.

An emotional Pittman was handcuffed by the bailiff and led out of the courtroom.

Eastman's charges

Eastman appeared on Thursday, without an attorney, in Laconia District Court, where Judge Janet Subers explained the proceedings. Without a lawyer present, the judge rescheduled the first reading of his charges until Thursday, Nov. 5.

Barnes told the court indictments had already been handed down for both Eastman and Pittman, whose first reading of charges were scheduled for the following morning in Belknap Superior Court.

Court records show they received direct indictments by the Belknap County Grand Jury on Sept. 18.

Subers said Eastman’s bail conditions were to refrain from any use of alcohol. Barnes had no other conditions for bail, and said her office had no issue with him remaining out on the promise to return to court.

“To be clear, your honor, we will be requesting changing both defendants’ bail during Superior Court, but I would not do such a thing with someone who is not represented by counsel,” Barnes told the judge Oct. 8.

Subers told Eastman he has been read his charges, it would normally fall on the state to drop the District Court charges so there aren’t two open cases, in two courts, at once. She added the District Court formal reading of charges would likely be canceled. If not, he is expected back in court on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Eastman was unaware of his indictment, and asked Subers why he was not notified. Subers did not know, and suggested he ask for information in Belknap Superior Court.

Pittman did not appear for his District Court reading of charges, which was addressed as the first order of business in the morning docket. A bench warrant was put out for his arrest, and Subers set $1,000 bail. After subsequently receiving information from Barnes about the indictment, the bench warrant was vacated.

Eastman’s formal reading of charges in Belknap Superior Court was originally scheduled for Friday, but court records show it has been rescheduled to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. A bail hearing is also scheduled for that time.

The case summary shows Eastman applied for a court-appointed attorney through NH Public Defenders.

Dispositional conferences for both Eastman and Pittman are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Belknap Superior Court.