Earlier today, Strafford County Sheriff Mark A. Brave was arraigned on felony charges of theft, perjury, and falsifying evidence in Brentwood, New Hampshire, according to The Boston Globe.
As reported by WMUR, Brave, who is accused of misspending $19,000 in county funds on trips, hotels, and meals, has vehemently denied the charges, claiming that the case against him is politically and racially motivated.
According to the aforementioned Foster's Daily Democrat article, the investigation spans from May 2022 through May 2023 and alleges that Brave misused county funds for airfare, hotels, and meals during extramarital affairs. The charges include one count of theft by deception (a Class A felony), two counts of falsifying physical evidence (Class B felonies), and five counts of perjury (Class B felonies) for lying to the Strafford County grand jury. Conviction on all charges could result in up to 64 years in prison.
During his arraignment, Brave appeared without legal representation, and the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Brave later stated in an interview that he is "absolutely not guilty" and plans to hire an attorney soon using proceeds from the sale of his home in Dover per The Boston Globe.
It is worth noting that the case has been moved out of Strafford County to avoid the appearance of conflict, with the New Hampshire Attorney General's office handling the prosecution as reported by Foster's Daily Democrat.
