Alton man indicted on aggravated felonious sexual assault charge

LACONIA — A Belknap County Superior Court Grand Jury has indicted Joshua Luscomb, 41, of 1665 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay, on a special felony charge of aggravated felonious sexual assault of a 38-year-old woman, with additional charges of dissemination of private sexual images and falsifying physical evidence, both Class B felonies, as well as a Class A misdemeanor charge of violation of privacy through the dissemination of a photo.

The alleged sexual assault occurred in early October, and Luscomb allegedly sent an explicit photograph the victim to another man between Oct. 4 and Nov. 25. He also allegedly sent a photograph of himself engaging in sexual activity with the victim.

Authorities allege that he “did alter, destroy, conceal or remove” sexually explicit photographs and video images from his cellular telephone to thwart an official investigation.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but an independent jury’s decision, after hearing from police, that sufficient evidence exists to warrant a court trial.

The grand jury also returned an indictment against John R. Vachon, 32, of 411 Winona Road, New Hampton, on a second-degree domestic assault charge of choking his partner. Vachon also is charged on Class A misdemeanors of simple assault, for allegedly pushing the victim to the ground; criminal threatening, for allegedly threatening murder; and criminal mischief, for allegedly snapping the victim’s eyeglasses.