godbout plea rejected by Judge Oneil

LACONIA — A Superior Court Judge yesterday threw out a the negotiated settlement for the young Sanbornton woman who is charged as being an accomplice to at least 14 area home burglaries.

County Attorney James Carroll and Defense Attorney Howard Clayman came to an agreement that Natalie Godbout, 19, of Hunkins Pond Road would serve one year in Belknap County Jail and pay restitution to many of her victims.

They also agreed she would serve 14 separate 18 months to 3 year terms in the N.H. State Prison for women but they were all suspended.

Godbout is alleged to be the third wheel in a burglary ring that targeted at least 21 homes in a variety of Belknap County communities including Alton, Tilton, Belmont, Meredith and Sanbornton. The state alleged that Godbout drove while her boyfriend Joshua Levesque and his friend Stephen Deagle forced their way into homes stealing everything from cash and jewelry to flat screen televisions and electronics.

The one victim who addressed Godbout in court told her that she stole from her things that were family heirlooms that she had gotten from her mother and was now unable, forever, to give them to her grandchildren.

"I will still never forgive you for losing these memories," said the Alton woman who nonetheless told Godbout she hoped that she was able to put her life in order and become a better person.

Deagle and Levesque are both serving four to nine year sentences in the New Hampshire State Prison.

"I have some severe reservations about this plea," said Judge James D. O'Neill, asking Godbout to address him about her future.

She told him tearfully that she was sorry the pain she caused her victims and her own family. "I let drugs get the best of me," she said.

Godbout has been clean since her bail was revoke before trial because of a shoplifting complaint out of Gilford.

"I want to be the mother I can be," she told Judge O'Neill.

"How many families? Judge O'Neill asked Carroll. "And I understand it's really a lot more."

"This plea is not appropriate and is rejected," Judge O'Neill said, scheduling an Oct. 25 date for trial to begin.

When reached later, Carroll said he and Clayman have come up with a second plea arrangement and said Judge O'Neill will hear them on Friday afternoon.