Sherman trial

Darlene Sherman, proprietor of the former King's Grant Inn in Gilford, went on trial yesterday in Belknap Superior Court, charged with falsifying physical evidence. The charges arose from an incident, which occurred at the inn in August 2002.

Last spring, the Gilford Board of Selectmen, citing past and pending violations of state liquor laws and Sherman's indictment by the Belknap County Grand Jury, repeatedly denied requests to offer exotic ("near nude') dancing at the inn during Bike Week. Sherman filed civil actions against the town, first in Superior Court and then in federal court, seeking money damages for the impact on her business, which ultimately closed last year.

Assistant county attorney Lori Christmann began her opening argument by telling the jury of nine women and four men "this is a case about deceit and self-interest at the expense of another."

The prosecution alleges that early on the morning of August 4, 2002, after the inn had closed Jesse Mulder of Andover, was found intoxicated and unconscious in a restroom. The prosecutor claimed that Sherman instructed her employees to take Mulder from the building, remove a wristband identifying him as a patron and tell the police he had not been in the club. According to Christmann, Sherman said, "we have to get him out of here because I don't want to lose my liquor license."

Describing Mulder as "the victim in this case," Christmann stressed that despite his condition, Sherman told Wanda and Ed Allen, both employees at the inn, to call for a taxi, but not an ambulance, which was summoned only when the Gilford Police arrived.

Christmann said that the Allens, along with fellow employee, Lisa Miles, withheld information about the incident from both the New Hampshire Liquor Commission and the police. However, she explained that all three were not only employees but also tenants of Sherman, and followed her instructions for fear of losing their jobs and homes. Christmann said that in November, nearly four months after the incident , the Allens came forward "on their own initiative to tell the truth."

Representing Sherman, David Bownes, suggested the jury should ask what prompted first the Allens then Miles to come forward. Describing the Allens as "angry individuals who really don't care much for the truth and do care very much for their own self-interest," he asked "does it matter that they came forward only when they were evicted for nonpayment of rent? When they were no longer employed at the King's Grant Inn because of their behavior?"

Likewise, Bownes told the jury that Miles returned from a vacation in Florida to find herself the subject of a cruelty to animals investigation by the Gilford Police, prompted by Sherman's concern for the three dogs she left behind in her rented chalet. "When Lisa Miles gets back from vacation she goes to the Gilford Police department because there is a warrant out for her," Bownes said, asking "does that make a difference?"

Mulder, the state's first witness, shed little light on what happened that evening. He said after drinking "a couple of beers" at home, he reached the inn between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. where he began drinking heavily, "beers, Grateful Deads (five mixed shots) and shots." Around midnight, Mulder said he felt like dancing, but soon "got very hot and dizzy and headed for the exit door." Under questioning from Bownes, he said he had no recollection of getting outside, but did remember being outside, taking his shirt off and waking up in an ambulance. "I went back the next day," Mulder said, "and my shirt was still there."

The trial resumes at 9:30 this morning.