By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — A Gorham man facing numerous reckless conduct charges alleging he shot up businesses in Berlin and a nearby home and property is now behind bars after a judge in Coos County Superior Court ruled on a rehearing request on bail at the request of the Coos County Attorney.
Richard Devoid, 67, of Gorham had been released on bail with certain conditions after being held on preventative detention after his arrest on April 2.
Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, told Gov. Kelly Ayotte and fellow councilors Wednesday at the Governor and Executive Council meeting he was “enraged” at the decision to release Devoid on bail given the level of danger he posed and in light of new bail reform laws.
It comes after that same North Country community has been reeling over the July 2025 murder of 25-year-old Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha, killed in July after her husband, Michael Gleason Jr., was released on bail and then killed himself prior to the enactment of the new law.
Kenney said Devoid’s release was a mistake and said the state needs to get tough and lock him up until his trial. That order came only an hour after Kenney spoke.
Coos Superior Court Judge Jonathan Frizzell ordered Devoid be held pending trial, though his defense attorney said he had been abiding by the terms of the release.
In the larger context, this all comes after the state passed bail reform laws six months ago intended to protect the public from alleged offenders prior to trial.
Ayotte recently noted that incarceration prior to trial in Coos County was up considerably since the bill became law, and Attorney General John Formella said that if the law had been in place, Gleason would likely not have had an opportunity to violate bail and kill his wife.
Devoid was arrested on felony charges of reckless conduct with a firearm after he allegedly fired bullets into the windows of local businesses and vehicles in recent months.
“These felony charges are directly linked to shootings targeting local businesses and vehicles in recent months,” according to the Berlin Police Department. “Additional charges are expected in reference to other associated investigations.”