Belknap County Jail inmate walks away from Concord treatment program

CONCORD — A Belnap County Jail inmate who walked away from a treatment program in Concord Thursday night is now being actively sought after by local police and the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department.

Corrections Superintendent Daniel Ward said Michael Dupuis, 52, of Laconia was attending a court-ordered treatment program in Concord when he left the program at 8 p.m.

According to documents obtained from the 4th N.H. Circuit Court, Laconia Division. On Feb. 27, 2012 Dupuis pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing the reporting of a crime and was sentenced to serve 12 months in the Belknap County Jail, all suspended.

On the same day, he agreed to serve nine months of a previously suspended sentence with an additional five months suspended should he enter and complete a residential treatment program.

According to a motion for his release filed Wednesday in the Laconia Division Circuit Court by his attorney, Dupuis should have served four months of his sentence and entered a treatment program. He has been accepted into the Phoenix House in Franklin and can enter on July 2, 2012.

Dupuis had been incarcerated since January 29, 2012 and, according to his attorney, should have been freed on April 17, 2012 and if he was to remain in jail until his bed opens, he would have served an additional 73 days in jail “simply because he could not get into treatment sooner despite his best efforts.”

His attorney's motion was that he be released until he voluntarily enters the Phoenix House in July.

Laconia Prosecutor James Sawyer objected to the motion. On Thursday evening, Dupuis left treatment in Concord.

Ward said he should be considered an escapee and asked if anyone has any information as to his whereabouts not to approach him but to call the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department at 527-5454, the Belknap County Department of Corrections, or their local police.