Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Thomas John Ball Poirier (age 39) of Tilton, New Hampshire, has been indicted by the New Hampshire Multicounty Grand Jury, on charges of First Degree Assault on a person under 13 years of age, Second Degree Assault, Reckless Conduct, Obtaining a Controlled Drug by Deceit, and Possession of a Controlled Drug.
Mr. Poirier was formerly employed at Spaulding Academy and Family Services in Northfield, New Hampshire. The charges allege that, between December 15, 2020 and December 22, 2020, Mr. Poirier stole Methylphenidate, commonly known under the brand name Ritalin, which had been prescribed to Spaulding’s residents, some of whom were children under the age of 13. The charges further allege that Mr. Poirier replaced the stolen medication with an unknown substance and that, in doing so, he caused serious bodily harm to two children residing at Spaulding Academy and Family Services.
First Degree Assault is a class A felony that, when committed against a person under 13 years of age, is subject to an extended term of imprisonment of 10 to 30 years in the New Hampshire State Prison. The remaining four charges are class B felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of 3 ½ to 7 years in the New Hampshire State Prison.
Poirier will be arraigned in the Merrimack County Superior Court on a date to be determined.
The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Poirier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Thomas T. Worboys and Assistant Attorney General Stephanie J. Johnson of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, are prosecuting this case. Investigator Robert J. Sullivan, also of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Detective Sergeant James DeCormier of the Northfield Police Department, investigated this case with the assistance of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Tilton Police Department. Spaulding Academy reported the matter to the Northfield Police Department.
Under New Hampshire law, the Attorney General is responsible for the prosecution of health care facility employees charged with willful abuse, mistreatment or neglect of a patient. Health care facility employees suspected of abusing their patients should be reported to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit [(603) 271-1246], your local police department, or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services [(800) 949-0470].