Man Pleads Guilty To Assault; Rape Charges Dropped: Update

CONCORD, NH — Felonious sexual assault charges in Hillsborough County against a Manchester man from 2018 have been dropped, according to court documents.

Muhammad Talib, 24, of Plummer Street in Manchester, pleaded guilty instead to simple assault on Jan. 14. He received a six months sentence with all but 16 days suspended for three years. Talib is also on probation for two years, forthwith, according to the court, and must stay on good behavior for three years and attend counseling, treatment, or educational programs.

Talib was arrested in Manchester in June 2018 on two felonious sexual assault charges against a girl between the ages of 13 and 15 at the time. Those charges, however, were dropped.

About 15 months later, in September 2019, Talib was arrested in Concord on domestic violence-stalking and breach of bail conditions charges.

According to an affidavit, a girl accused Talib of lying about his age and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with her in Manchester when she was under 16. She told the officer she received a phone call from a number she didn't recognize at around 9 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2019. When she answered, she heard a male voice, she "recognized to be Talib's," hurling insults at her.

"(She) said that amid his comments, he said, 'You're going to hell,' 'stupid b----,' and 'you're worthless,'" the officer reported. "(She) said she did not respond to anything and just listened until the phone hung up."

The girl told the officer that she was 100 percent positive that it was Talib, according to the affidavit. The officer spoke to the girl's parent who confirmed they were aware of the situation and also explained to the officer about the bail order with Talib requiring him not to contact the girl.

The officer began an investigation into the phone call and first, checked the number, and found it was owned by a woman with the same address where Talib lived in Manchester, according to a report. A Manchester police detective also provided information, including the bail order, to the officer. The bail order was issued out of Hillsborough County Superior Court on April 22, 2019, and required him not to contact the girl, her family, by any means.

"I also saw in the order that the phone number Talib provided was, in fact, the number used to call (the girl) on Sept. 11," the officer reported.

An affidavit was issued on Sept. 13, 2019, Talib was arrested five days later, and held without bail.

On Sept. 23, 2019, Talib posted $1,000 in cash bail, and was released.

Talib was slated to go to trial in Concord District Court on those charges April 2 but that trial date was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The stalking and breach charges, however, is still active, according to the court.

Editor's note: This updated story was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department, Merrimack County Superior Court, and Hillsborough County Superior Court and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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