New Hampshire Dept. Of Corrections Seeks Help Finding Fugitive With ‘Violent Tendencies’

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Dept. Of Corrections is asking for the public’s help finding an “armed and dangerous” felon with “violent tendencies” who absconded from probation supervision more than a year ago.

William B. Powers is 34, white, about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighs around 130 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Powers has no known scars or tattoos, according to investigators. He is wanted on a warrant out of Strafford County Superior Court issued in August 2023.

“In October 2022, Powers was sentenced to one and a half to three years in state prison for a conviction of second-degree assault,” an alert stated. “This sentence was suspended and he was placed on supervised probation for two years. Powers has been absconding from probation since July 2023.”

Powers, investigators said, had a history of resisting arrest and assaulting law enforcement as well as simple assault, aggravated DWI, possession of controlled drugs, falsifying physical evidence, and criminal mischief convictions.

“Powers is considered armed and dangerous and has violent tendencies,” investigators said.

Powers was last known to be living in the Dover area.

According to superior court records, Powers’ criminal history dates back to late 2012, after he was arrested on felony acts prohibited and misdemeanor controlled drug act charges in Hampton in February 2013. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge and received two years probation and a $620 fine. He violated probation in December of that year and was held without bail. A couple of days later, he pleaded to the violation and received confinement with 10 days served as credit.

In September 2015, he was accused of prohibited acts in Seabrook and pleaded guilty three months later. He received two years' probation and $434 fines, all suspended for five years.

In August 2017, his attorney requested to have the fines vacated from the February 2013 charge and they were suspended to two years on condition of continued good behavior.

Powers was arrested again in June 2018 in Manchester on possession, falsifying physical evidence, and resisting arrest or detention. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to the felonies, and the resisting charge was nolle prossed. Powers received two 12-month sentences and a $620 fine, suspended for five years, and two years probation after that.

In December 2021 in Dover, he was arrested on two second-degree assault counts and a resisting arrest or detention with serious bodily harm charge, all felonies, as well as two simple assault charges. Ten months later, he pleaded guilty to a felony second-degree assault count and a simple assault charge. Powers was given a one-and-a-half to three-year sentence, suspended for five years, and a 12-month suspended sentence with nine days credit for time served. He was also directed to pay $6,682.63 in restitution to Primex and received two years probation.

If you know where Powers is or see someone who looks like him, do not try to apprehend him. Instead, contact your local police department, corrections at 603-271-1804, or the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office at 603-742-4968.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.