Sentences handed down in Keene courtroom

July 27--Those convicted of fraud and drug charges were among those sentenced recently in Cheshire County Superior Court.

--Angela Hutchinson, 33, of Peterborough was found guilty of welfare fraud between October 2012 and July 2014 and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended, ordered to tour the N.H. State Prison and ordered to pay restitution of $38,807 to the state Department of Health and Human Services. She was also placed on probation for three years. Three additional counts of welfare fraud were dismissed by prosecutors.

--Diana Espaillat, 29, of Swanzey was found guilty of insurance fraud from November 2012 in Swanzey. According to court documents, Espaillat submitted a claim to the Massachusetts Bay Insurance Co. for damage she claimed was caused by flooding, when no flood had occurred. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay restitution of $2,541. An additional charge of insurance fraud was dismissed by prosecutors.

--Samantha Page, 29, of Westmoreland was found guilty of theft by unauthorized taking for attempting to cash a stolen and forged check for $5,000 in January. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended, and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. According to court documents, no restitution was ordered based on testimony from her victim. She was placed on probation for two years. A charge of forgery was dismissed by prosecutors.

--Paula Hodge, 62, of Hinsdale was found guilty of control of premises where heroin was kept from October 2014 in Hinsdale. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended, and fined $434 in fees and penalties. She was also ordered to tour the N.H. State Prison. A charge of possession of heroin was dismissed by prosecutors.

--Christopher Michael Sieczkowski, 26, of Jaffrey was found guilty of trying twice to obtain the controlled drug Vicoprofen with a false prescription in Rindge in August and September. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended, on the first charge, ordered to pay $620 in fines and penalties and was placed on probation for three years. He was sentenced to one to three years in N.H. State Prison, all suspended, on the second charge, and consecutive to the first sentence.

--Heather Couturier, 29, of Temple was found guilty of driving after license revocation from November in Jaffrey. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended except for 10 days, ordered to pay $310 in fees and penalties, all suspended, and her license was suspended for an additional year. Additional charges of being a habitual offender of motor vehicle laws and speeding were dismissed by prosecutors.

--Paul Dugan Sr., 65, of Antrim was found guilty of felony welfare fraud between January 2011 and May 2013. According to court documents, Dugan intentionally lied about his income and assets to receive cash and food stamp benefits. He was sentenced to nine months in jail, all suspended, and ordered to pay restitution of $21,700 to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

--Nicholas Wardwell, 22, of Keene was found guilty of heroin possession from April in Keene and was sentenced to six months to four years in N.H. State Prison, all suspended, ordered to pay $434 in fees and penalties, suspended for five years, and placed on probation for three years.

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