Man bashes head against courthouse wall after being ordered back to jail for probation violation

LACONIA — A man bashed his own head against a holding cell wall Friday afternoon at the Belknap County Courthouse after learning he was returning to jail for a probation violation.

According to Belknap County Attorney Melissa Guldbrandsen, Justin Thurber, 29, will return to the Belknap County House of Corrections for six months of a nine-month sentence.

In April of 2008, he was sentenced to serve two to four years in New Hampshire State Prison for possession of methadone in Tilton of 2007. The sentence was suspended upon good behavior and could be brought forward for 10 years.

In 2008, Thurber pleaded guilty to breaking into a Sanbornton home in the fall of 2007 and helping to steal property valued greater than $1,000. He was sentenced to 12 months in the Belknap County House of Corrections and credited with 12 days of pre-trial confinement.

At the same time, he also pleaded guilty to being an accomplice to burglary for driving three others to a residence on Calef Hill Road.

At the time Judge Robert Morrill recommended Thurber be eligible for work release and participate meaningfully in a drug and alcohol treatment program.

Most recently, Thurber was one of two men who were nearly swept away when a dam operator opened a sluice gate at the Avery Dam near City Hall while he and another man were fishing from the ledge.

Both managed to scramble to safety and were warned not to fish down there again.

According to Guldbrandsen, Thurber's self-inflicted injuries after Friday's sentencing were limited to a gash over one of his eyebrows. She said he was taken by ambulance to Lakes Region General Hospital for treatment and later brought to the Belknap County facility.

A correctional guard confirmed last night that Thurber was incarcerated there.