Probable cause hearing in Bartlett Beach threatening case delayed for lack of lawyer

One person charged with threatening multiple people with a knife at Bartlett Beach had a probable cause hearing delayed until next week because no lawyer has been assigned to the case.

Shiloh Hillman was scheduled to appear in Laconia District Court on Wednesday afternoon for the hearing. The court had approved his request to be provided legal counsel, but none has yet been secured. 

Judge Christopher Keating told Hillman the state wasn’t able to match him with a defender, due in part to a serious shortage of public defenders and contract lawyers who provide defense to people in need, and also because the courts are dealing with a large number of ongoing cases.

According to state law, Hillman is entitled to a probable cause hearing within 30 days of his arraignment, and Keating acknowledged he’s likely at something of a disadvantage by not having counsel appointment promptly. Hillman was arraigned Sept. 10 in District Court. 

“You’re enduring some prejudice without counsel,” Keating said. 

But Hillman is not detained while awaiting the hearing, and Keating noted, if he’s appointed counsel within the next few days, his lawyer would have ample opportunity to review the facts of the case and prepare a defense before the probable cause hearing.

Even if the state misses the 30-day window to conduct a probable cause hearing, the court does not lose jurisdiction over the case and criminal charges are not simply dropped.

The purpose of the probable cause hearing is for the judge to determine whether the state has sufficient evidence against Hillman in order for the case to be elevated to Belknap County Superior Court. Even if the judge finds the state does not have sufficient evidence to move the case, Hillman could be indicted by a Belknap County Grand Jury at a later date.  

Hillman, 43, of Laconia, was taken into custody and charged after police received a call reporting an incident at Bartlett Beach on Winnisquam Avenue late in the night of Sept. 9. Callers reported a male suspect threatening others with a large knife just after 11 p.m.

On the night of the incident, officers arrived at the scene and located Hillman, and during the course of an overnight investigation developed probable cause to charge him with five counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted second-degree assault. 

Hillman was arrested at the scene and transported to the Belknap County Jail after initially refusing bail but has since been released. 

Hillman is scheduled to appear in Laconia District Court again at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.