Rockingham County Attorney’s Office

Press Release

For more information contact:

Jim Reams 603-642-4249

ADAM MENTUS Sentenced to 10 to 20 years for Manslaughter

Brentwood -        County Attorney Jim Reams announced today that the N.H. Superior Court Judge John Lewis sentenced Adam Mentus (DOB 3/15/89) of 10 Wesley Street, Danville, NH to 10 to 20 years at the NH State Prison for a Manslaughter conviction in the June 26, 2008 shooting death of Deidre Budzyna by mishandling a loaded firearm that had been purchased by a friend the day before. 

Deputy County Attorney Thomas F. Reid and Assistant County Attorney Geoffrey Ward prosecuted the case and Gladys Lirette was the Victim Advocate assigned to assist the Budzyna family.  “This prosecution points out the fact that firearms are not toys that must be handled with care. The result of his reckless behavior is 10 to 20 years in prison for Mentus and a tragic death for the Budzyna family.  I hope a sad lesson was learned by the rest of the young adults that were present when this death happened”, said Reams.