Homeless man held on assault charge

BELMONT — A man who lives in a makeshift homeless camp behind the N.H. State Liquor Store off Rte. 3 is being held on $2,000 cash-only bail after allegedly choking and punching his fiance last weekend.

Kenneth Wright, 52, is charged with one count of second-degree assault and two counts of domestic violence simple assault. Affidavits obtained from the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division said Wright's alleged victim was carried to the ambulance after the fight was broken up by responding officers.

Police said one of her eyes was closed and she complained that she couldn't move her neck because Wright allegedly choked her earlier in the day to the point where she nearly passed out. She also told police Wright allegedly had assaulted her over the past several days.

In court Tuesday, Wright's public defender said her client wasn't going anywhere because he lives in a homeless camp. She said he is a former Navy veteran with post-tramautic stress disorder (PTSD) and has been working with counselors to get back on his medicine.

The Belmont prosecutor said Wright had a fairly lengthy criminal record from the Laconia Courts as well as Claremont court. He also said Wright had previously violated a bail order to stay away from the same victim.

Wright has originally being held on $2,000 cash or corporate surety however Judge Edward "Ned" Gordon agreed with the prosecutor and changed the bail to cash-only.