Fugitive Task Force Seeks Tips About Accused Assaulter From Maine

CONCORD, NH — The District of New Hampshire – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force is attempting to find an accused assaulter with a long rap sheet and prior prostitution and assault convictions who is wanted on bail condition violations as well as failure to appear warrants.

James "Sonny" Morse is 45, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs around 170 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Marshals said he has tattoos on his left ankle, back, and light and right arms. Morse is accused of using the aliases "Sonny Morse," "Damian Springer," and "Omar Jenkins" in the past.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on Oct. 31, 2019, by the Sanford Maine Police Department, according to Jeffrey White, a deputy marshal.

"Morse is wanted on bail violations and failure to appear warrants on three counts of aggravated assault," White said. "Morse is known to travel throughout New England, including the central, southern and the seacoast areas of New Hampshire, but his current whereabouts are unknown."

Task force members are warning the public that Morse should be considered "armed and dangerous" and has "violent tendencies" considering his past and lengthy criminal history.

According to posts online, Morse has faced a myriad of charges during the past eight years.

Morse was arrested in June 2012 on stalking, entering at night for a felony to put a person in fear, intimidation of a witness, two counts of breaking and entering at night to commit a felony, two counts of threatening to commit a crime, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (door), two counts of malicious destruction of property over $250, and three counts of assault and battery in Revere after an incident with an ex-girlfriend. He was living in the city at the time, according to the Revere Journal.

Morse was arrested in Danvers in September 2012 on attempted murder, kidnapping, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, deriving support from prostitution and detaining or drugging a person in a brothel after being accused of kidnapping a woman in Stamford, Connecticut, while also operating an escort service out of hotels in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was later convicted on the prostitution charge, according to press reports.

In March 2017, according to The Salem News, Morse, who was living in Peabody at the time, was facing assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery, and four counts of drug possession after being accused of causing a woman's skull fracture during an incident. The News reported that Morse had a "17-page criminal record."

In May of that year, Morse was featured in a Boston Herald series about pimps, prostitutes, drug abuse, and human trafficking, all around New England.

In August 2018, Morse, then living in North Billerica, was arrested in Gloucester on resisting arrest and being a fugitive from justice out of Maine. He was also wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Gloucester.

If you see Morse or know where he is, do not try to apprehend him. Call the U.S. Marshals Service at 603-225-1632 or your local police department.

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

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