New Hampshire v. Allain

Defendant Daniel Allain appealed a superior court order denying his request for pretrial confinement credit toward a suspended sentence imposed for violating a good behavior condition. Defendant was arrested on October 10, 2015 for a burglary that took place August 31, 2015. Unable to post bail, he remained incarcerated until trial. In February 2016, the State obtained eight indictments against him relating to burglaries and thefts that took place during the late summer of 2015, including the August 31 burglary. On July 8, 2016, the State moved to impose defendant’s 2011 suspended sentence because he violated the good behavior condition by committing the August 31 burglary. On August 15, 2016, the State entered a nolle prosequi on the charge involving the August 31, 2015 burglary. On appeal, defendant argued the trial court erred by denying him “presentence confinement credit beginning October 10, 2015.” He contended that had he posted bail on October 10, 2015, he would serve a total of three to six years of the 2011 sentence, but “[b]ecause he is indigent and the court denied credit, he will serve three years, 332 days to six years, 332 days.” Requiring him to serve more time because of his indigency, he argues, “involves precisely the discrimination” the presentence confinement credit statutes seek to prohibit. The New Hampshire Supreme Court concurred with defendant's argument and reversed the trial court's order's denying his request for pretrial confinement credit. The case was remanded for that court to grant pretrial credit toward defendant's sentence. View "New Hampshire v. Allain" on Justia Law