Breach of bail charges pile up against man accused of assaulting pregnant girlfriend

LACONIA — A Laconia District Court judge ruled Monday that the man who allegedly beat his pregnant girlfriend and later allegedly tried to coerce her into not testifying against him was competent to stand trial.

Nathan Scaringi, 25, formerly of 178 Union Ave. faces 12 counts of breach of bail for contacting or attempting to contact his victim and was indicted last week on three felony counts of witness tampering.

He also faces four counts of simple assault for allegedly slapping the victim, restraining her by holding her hands behind her back, sitting on her and spitting on her.

After his initial arrest for assault on Jan. 11, Scaringi was ordered held on $5,000 cash-only bail. According to Laconia Police affidavits, officers responded to the apartment after a neighbor called and reported a disturbance.

When police arrived, Scaringi allegedly told them he had had a verbal argument with one of his male friends who had already left the apartment.

When police asked him for permission to search the home, he assented and Officer Kevin Shortt found Scaringi's victim hiding in the back of a closet.

Once incarcerated in the Belknap County Jail, Scaringi allegedly used a fellow inmate's identification to call his victim on 12 separate occasions. In three of those calls, police allege he attempted to influence the victim — leading to his indictment on three felony counts of witness tampering.

When Scaringi appeared before Judge Jim Carroll for the breach of bail and witness tampering charges, Carroll increased his bail to $50,000, cash-only.

During Monday's appearance, Scaringi, dressed in olive green prison garb and handcuffed, was represented by Public Defender John Bresaw.

Carroll allowed Scaringi's four assault charges and 12 breach of bail charges to be heard on the same day later this month as long as Scaringi waived his right to a speedy trial.

In a related matter, Gilford Town Prosecutor Crp. Eric Bredbury also filed a motion to impose a cash sentence for Scaringi's Nov. 8, 2010 conviction for criminal trespassing.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Scaringi was fined $1,000 plus $240 in court costs suspended on good behavior for one year. Since he has been charged with additional counts, Bredbury's motion to impose half of his previous fine — or $620 — will be heard on the same day as his trial for the misdemeanors.

No date has been scheduled in Belknap County Superior Court for the three felonies.