A former Concord police officer is facing assault charges following his indictment by a Merrimack County Grand Jury. Richard Cobb, who previously served with the Concord Police Department, has been slapped with four counts of Simple Assault by an on-duty law enforcement officer, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella.
Allegations against Cobb claim that he intentionally engaged in nonconsensual contact with two individuals—one occasion on March 26, 2023, and another two instances with the same person on April 1, 2023. Cobb's status as an ex-cop seems to hardly matter as he is now on the receiving end of the justice system's scrutiny. Despite the charges, he still has the right to be presumed innocent until to be proven guilty.
The stakes for Cobb are substantial, with each charge of Simple Assault holding the potential for an escalated sentence of 2-to-5 years behind bars and a fine of up to $2,000.00, reflecting the weight of alleged offenses committed by someone meant to uphold the law. The Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord has scheduled an arraignment and bail hearing for April 5, 2024, at 8:30 am.
This development unfolded after a probe conducted jointly by officers from the New Hampshire Department of Justice and the Concord Police Department—a collaboration that signals no room for misconduct among their ranks. Assistant Attorney General Joe M. Fincham II, from the State's Public Integrity Unit, will lead the charge against Cobb in court proceedings. For those wanting to know more details, the original announcement can be found on the New Hampshire Department of Justice's website.
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