Concord Man Receives 3.5 To 7 Year Arson, Animal Cruelty Sentence

CONCORD, NH — A convicted arsonist was sentenced to three and a half to seven-year sentence on arson and animal cruelty charges, according to Paul Halvorsen, the Merrimack County Attorney.

Christopher Vincent, 43, was convicted on a felony arson charge on June 2, after a multi-day trial, after a fire on Chestnut Street in Pittsfield. Also on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to a felony arson charge and a misdemeanor cruelty to animals charge, admitting to setting a fire at a chicken coop in Concord. An additional three to six years, all suspended for five years upon release from his current sentence, was added to his charges. He will also serve a concurrent 12-month sentence for the animal cruelty charge.

Christopher Vincent Credit: Concord Police Department, 2020

“Vincent’s actions presented a clear danger not only to the community but to the safety of first responders,” Halvorsen said.

ALSO READ:

• Concord Man Charged With Arson In 2016 Pittsfield Case
• Concord Man Indicted On Arson, Animal Cruelty Charges: Court
• Concord Man Arrested On Arson, Animal Cruelty Charges

The cases were investigated by the New Hampshire Fire Marshal’s Office, Pittsfield police, and Concord and Pittsfield firefighters. Carley McWhirk and Andrew Yourell prosecuted the case.

In a second case Wednesday, Robert Clark, 32, of Concord was convicted for failure to comply with sex offender registration.

Robert Clark. Credit: Concord Police Department, 2016

Clark was convicted on possession of child sexual abuse images in 2009 and is required to register with police. He failed to do that in September 2020. Clark was sentenced to one to three years in state prison, all suspended, for a period of five years. He was also sentenced to 12 months, stand committed, on a probation violation, which alleged he was non-compliant with his probation from a prior conviction.

Clark’s case was investigated by Concord police and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections and prosecuted by Melinda Siranian, an assistant county attorney.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.