Rockingham County Attorney’s Office

Press Release

For more information contact:

Jim Reams 603-642-4249

 


AYALA CONVICTED ON NUMEROUS COUNTS OF ASSAULTS AND WITNESS TAMPERING

 

Brentwood -        County Attorney Jim Reams announced today that a Rockingham County jury has convicted Benjamin Ayala, (DOB 03/23/87) of LKA Rockingham County House of Corrections on two (2) counts of First Degree Assault, three (3) counts of Second Degree Assault, nine (9) counts of Witness Tampering, as one (1) felony count of Criminal Threatening and multiple counts of Simple Assault. 

The charges stem from 6 incidents that occurred at the victim’s residence in Derry.   The assaults started in February of 2007 and continued through the fall of 2007.  The abuse against the victim included punching the victim in the ribs causing two rib fractures, cutting the victim’s neck with a knife, stabbing the victim with a screwdriver and strangling the victim to the point where she lost consciousness.  The defendant also repeatedly punched the victim about her body on numerous occasions throughout the 6-7 month period of time.  After the Derry Police Department arrested the defendant, the defendant called the victim from the jail approximately 10 times and attempted to cause the victim to inform falsely and/or withhold testimony.

 

The Trial Team consisted of Assistant County Attorney Patricia Conway, Assistant County Attorney Geoff Ward and Victim Advocate Cubbi Lirette. The defendant faces 7 ˝ -15 years on each First Degree Assault, 3 ˝ - 7 years on two counts of Second Degree Assault and 3 ˝ - 7 years on each Witness Tampering.  The defendant is currently being held without bail pending his sentencing and the completion of a Pre-sentence Investigation by the Department of Corrections.

 

“I am proud of the job that my Domestic Violence Unit did in this difficult case.  The victim remains safe and I will be asking the Court to impose a significant prison sentence for this horrific abuse”, said Reams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

James M. Reams

Rockingham County Attorney

P. O. Box 1209

Kingston, N.H. 03848

phone   603-642-4249

email  jreams@rcao.net