NH Felon Racks Up Stolen Vehicle, Burglary, Drug, Other Charges In 7 Communities

CONCORD, NH — A man from Bedford is facing multiple charges after an arrest in Concord while also being arrested or convicted on dozens of charges in several New Hampshire communities during the past two years.

Around 12:45 a.m. on July 19, an officer noticed, while on patrol on Water Street, that the rear license plate lights on a 2014 Nissan Versa were not functioning properly. The vehicle was pulled over at the Speedway gas station. The driver exited the vehicle but was told by the officer to return to the vehicle, which he did, the report said.

A check of the vehicle registration led to a report it was stolen, possibly out of Goffstown, and backup was requested. The vehicle also had an expired inspection sticker.

The officer approached the driver, who was accused of saying he did not have a license on hand, and gave the name of another person. The officer also accused the driver of taking “a few seconds to come up with his date of birth” while also not knowing his Social Security number.

“As I spoke with the operator, he appeared nervous and fidgety,” the officer wrote.

“After some conversation,” the driver gave his real name, Randall P. Francis, 43, of Nathan Cutler Drive in Bedford, saying he previously gave his brother’s name because he knew he did not have a valid license, an affidavit said. The officer found out later Francis lost his license due to failure to appear in court in November 2021. He was also convicted of driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent out of Brentwood District Court in November 2021. The check also yielded theft convictions out of Merrimack District Court in November 2019 and Candia District Court in June, and a receiving stolen property conviction out of Hillsborough County Superior Court in July 2021.

The officer arrested Francis on revocation subsequent and disobeying an officer charges. During the process of being cuffed, Francis was accused of admitting he had methamphetamine in his pocket — with the officer retrieving a baggie and a small glass bong with burnt residue.

The vehicle identification number was checked and found to match a vehicle stolen out of Londonderry, reported a week before. Londonderry police dispatch also confirmed the vehicle was stolen later.

The front license plate was checked, and it came back connected to a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The rear license plate was a different number and was from a 2019 Nissan Versa. The plate was stolen out of Goffstown.

Francis was read his Miranda Rights — with him noting “that a bachelor’s degree was his highest level of education and (he) could understand the English language,” the report noted. He said he had been working on tree removal services in the city and was on his way back to Manchester to return the vehicle that he had “borrowed” from a friend, an affidavit said. Francis said the man was in his 40s and lived near Brown Avenue but did not offer any other information about the man, the report said.

Francis said he had recently relapsed and was regularly using meth, the affidavit stated.

When told the vehicle and license plate were stolen, “Randall seemed surprised” and said he was going to have “a large issue with the man,” the report said.

Francis was charged with receiving stolen property-$1,501+, possession of meth, and receiving stolen property-two prior convictions charges, all felonies. He was also charged with driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, disobeying an officer, transport drugs in motor vehicle charges, and misuse of plates, and tail lamp and reflectors violations.

Several Other Cases

According to superior court records, Francis has dozens of convictions and active cases during the past two years.

In January 2020, he was charged and later pleaded guilty to a receiving stolen property charge in Bedford. The case has been reopened due to a violation of probation charge in February. In April 2020, he was accused of burglary in Bedford in one case and burglary, theft, and breach of bail conditions in a second case. Those cases are still open and he is due in superior court for a status conference on Aug. 29.

Francis was accused of possessing drugs, transporting drugs in a motor vehicle, driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, and breach of bail in November 2020 in Bedford. That case is still open and he is due in superior court for a status conference on Aug. 29.

A month later, he was arrested on burglary and felony theft charges in Milford. Francis pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021, making him a felon.

In July 2021, Francis was also accused of felony and misdemeanor theft, two counts of falsifying physical evidence, and two counts of penalty for offense committed while on bail out of Manchester. The case is still open and he is due in superior court for a status conference on Aug. 29.

Also, in Manchester, in August 2021, he was accused of possessing drugs and resisting arrest in one case and possessing burglary tools, loitering or prowling, attempted felony theft, drug possession, and resisting arrest or detention in a second Manchester case. Those cases are also still open and he is due back in superior court for a status conference on Aug. 29.

In February, he was accused of burglary and penalty for offense committed while on bail in Manchester. He was arraigned on July 8 on the charges and is due back in court for a dispositional conference on Sept. 9.

Francis was arrested in Concord in March on a felony acts prohibited charge after officers were sent to the Storrs Street Garage for a report of a man on the fifth floor of the garage who had items on the ground around him. After questioning and being taken into custody on a Manchester burglary warrant, he was accused of possessing meth.

In April, Francis was arrested again, this time in Bow, on possession of meth and loitering or prowling charges after police alleged he was shining a flashlight into a maintenance shed at the Hampton Inn.

Other charges, according to posts on Patch during the past five years, include harassment, arrest before requisition, criminal trespass, breach of bail, litter control, suspension of vehicle registration, and warrants.

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