2 New Hampshire Fugitives And An Escapee Apprehended: Reports

CONCORD, NH — During the past 48 hours, the U.S. Marshals Service and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections were able to put three men, who had been at-large for many weeks, back behind bars, with some help from local police.

Corrections officials said Thursday that Michael Stevens, 43, a felon who was moving from prison to parole and placed on escape status in late October, after being accused of failing to return to transitional housing after leaving his job, was arrested Monday. Police in Manchester, using information from the department's investigations unit, found a vehicle Stevens was reportedly seen in. He was found, a short time later, at a nearby home.

"The department is appreciative of the Manchester Police Department's support in apprehending Mr. Stevens," Tina Thurber, the public information officer for corrections, said. "Mr. Stevens has been returned to the New Hampshire State Prison."

On Wednesday, the marshal's fugitive task force was able to arrest this week's "fugitive of the week," Robert Shawn Audette, 31, who was wanted on a federal warrant from December 2019 on a methamphetamine dealing charge. The task force received a number of anonymous tips that he might be hiding out on Mast Road in Goffstown, according to Jeffrey White, a deputy marshal.

"Members of the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force conducted surveillance at these locations and observed a person believed to be Audette getting into the passenger seat of a car," White said. "This car was followed a short distance and was stopped by members of the task force. Audette was located inside the car and arrested without incident."

White said the department was pleased to get Audette apprehended due to the "armed and dangerous" warning on his alert — because of prior arson, deadly weapon, criminal threatening, and other convictions. He was taken to the Merrimack County Jail where he was held as a federal prisoner pending a U.S. District Court appearance Thursday.

White also announced the capture of another fugitive from October: Nathaniel Michael Plaisted, 35, who was accused of failure to appear on a cocaine possession charge in Sullivan County. He was arrested after Claremont police were sent to a shoplifting incident at a department store Tuesday. The fugitive alert "produced several tips" pointing task force investigators to Claremont and locations in Vermont.

"This information was actively pursued by the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force along with the Claremont Police Department," White said. "Fortunately, this search came to an end when he was reported to police for shoplifting and was arrested without incident."

Plaisted is being held in the Sullivan County Jail pending a court appearance. According to court documents, he has been convicted in the past on drug, evidence, and violation of probation charges.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the U.S. Marshals Service and New Hampshire Department of Corrections and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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