UPDATE to include information from Executive Councilor John Stephen’s letter in February to Magistrate Johnson about an unrelated case in which she allowed personal recognizance bail for a man who allegedly stabbed a stranger in Manchester. This also corrects her status as wife, not ex-wife. Also WMUR reported that two judges also signed off on the bail for Michael Gleason Jr.
State Rep. Lori Korzen, R-Berlin, is calling for the resignation of Magistrate Stephanie Johnson who set bail at $5,000 for the man who then killed his wife Marisol Fuentes-Huaracha on Sunday in the La Casita restaurant before killing himself.
Michael Gleason Jr., 50, who was married to Marisol Fuentes-Huaracha, 25, was granted bail by Magistrate Johnson despite evidence and previous charges that proved the danger he posed to the community, she said.
In her letter to Johnson, Korzen said: “As the State Representative for Coos County, District 7, I write to you with a heavy heart and a solemn sense of responsibility following the tragic events that resulted in the death of Marisol Fuentes, a beloved member of the community here in Berlin, NH.
“The decision to set Mr. Gleason’s bail at just $5,000, despite clear warning signs and the severity
of the charges he faced, has had devastating consequences for Marisol, her family, and our entire
community. The bail system exists to balance the rights of the accused with the imperative of
public safety. In this instance, I believe that balance was not achieved, and the result was a
preventable tragedy.
“I recognize the immense pressures and complexities that come with your role. However, the
gravity of this oversight cannot be ignored. Accountability is essential for restoring public
confidence in our legal system and for ensuring that such a heartbreaking event is never
repeated.
“In light of these circumstances, and in the interest of justice and public trust, I respectfully call
for your resignation. Our community deserves leaders who act with the utmost vigilance and
responsibility, particularly in matters where lives are at stake,” Korzen wrote, adding her sympathy for the family and those affected.
Gleason had entered no plea to Kidnapping; Domestic Violence, aggravated felonious sexual assault; domestic violence force/violence and theft by unauthorized taking in April, according to court records. He was accused of stealing $8,000 and her Iphone.
Magistrate Johnson was criticized in February for releasing a man on bail who was accused of stabbing a stranger on Elm Street in Manchester.
On Feb. 11, Executive Councilor John Stephen wrote to Johnson critical of her allowing Kyle Bisson to post personal recognizance bail after being accused of stabbing a stranger on Feb. 7 in Manchester.
It “represents a stark departure from New Hampshire law and the duties imposed on you as a Magistrate, and it gravely undermines public safety,” Stephen wrote at the time.
Stephen was outraged again when he learned about the death of Marisol Fuentes-Huaracha.
Marisol Fuentes-Huaracha was employed by the Guzman Hospitality Group as manager at La Casita Mexican Restaurant in Berlin.
On July 6, at about 9:45 a.m. Berlin police responded to La Casita and discovered Marisol Fuentes-Huaracha, 25, was dead with gunshot wounds behind the bar. Later, authorities found Michael Gleason Jr., 50, inside a bathroom dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Her obituary said: “We, as a community, came to know a hardworking woman with an everlasting passion for life, a million-dollar smile that greeted you every time you crossed the threshold, and a warmth that brought the sun of Mexico to the cold winters of New England. She poured her heart into every community she served, cherishing life not only through her work but also through her paintings, her love for animals, and her joy in celebrations. Marisol was a truly kind soul and a beautiful spirit who brought love and devotion to this town, for that, we express our deepest gratitude.”
“Life is not measured in years but in the number of people we impact by our actions. In this, Marisol was an old soul, giving generously to all around her. She is, and will forever be an inspiration, a reflection of God’s grace and goodness in this world. Let us carry her memory forward by sharing the best of her: her never-ending kindness.”
A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 10 AM, at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish, located at 345 Pleasant Street, Berlin. An open confession service will be available since 8:40 AM, same day, in both English and Spanish for all community members who wish to take communion in Marisol’s honor. There will be no calling hours. Marisol will be repatriated to her home in Jalisco, Mexico, and laid to rest at a later date.
At Wednesday’s Governor and Executive Council meeting, Executive Councilor Joe Kenney asked the attorney general to explore how the tragedy could have been avoided.
He said there is a lot of “shock and mourning” and her assailant should have been behind bars.
Authorities said that both were engaged in a prior domestic relationship and the incident was likely a murder suicide.
Kenney said legislation which recently passed might have had an impact. He said the state court system gave Gleason a limited bail amount that could have been raised at a lemonade stand and that Gleason should have been left in jail up until the trial.
He said the decision to allow Gleason out also jeopardized the community and imperilled many first responders.
John Formella, the attorney general called it a horrible tragedy and said it will be a case for the new domestic violence fatality review committee to study, after Gov. Ayotte signed it into law recently.