Nashua Felon Arrested On 7 Drug Sale Charges

NASHUA, NH — A Gate City man was arraigned on drug sale charges on Tuesday and held on preventive detention.

Robert M. Bates, 39, of no fixed address in Nashua, was arrested on Monday and charged with acts prohibited: sale of a controlled drug-fentanyl-subsequent offense. The charge was based on an accusation by detectives in Nashua that he was “distributing various drugs” in the city, according to Sgt. John Cinelli, the public information officer and communications division supervisor for the Nashua Police Department.

Detectives continued to work the case and also issued a search warrant for his residence. This led to more charges against Bates, including two counts of sale of a controlled drug-subsequent offense, fentanyl and crack cocaine, four counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute-subsequent offense, fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, buprenorphine, and naloxone. He was arrested and held without bail.

In court on Tuesday, an entry of not guilty was entered on Bates’ behalf and his counsel waived arraignment. He was held on preventive detention. The affidavit in the case was also sealed, according to court employees.

A probable cause hearing is booked for April 21.

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

According to superior court records, Bates criminal history dates back more than two decades.

Bates was accused of two conspiracy charges in Hudson in June 2004 and two conspiracy charges in Nashua in November 2004. The Nashua charges were dropped, but he pleaded guilty to the Hudson charges in September 2005.

In December 2005, Bates was accused of two counts of burglary, attempted burglary, and three falsifying physical evidence counts in Nashua. The evidence and attempted charges were dropped, while he pleaded guilty to the burglary charge. More burglary charges were issued in February 2006, but all but two were dropped.

In January 2012, Bates was accused of a drug sale. Eighteen months later, the charge was nolle prossed.

In August 2012, Bates was accused of felony theft by deception in Nashua. Two and a half years later, he was charged. But the charge was nolle prossed about a month later.

In Salem in May 2013, he was accused of controlled drug act and breach of bail conditions. Five months later, he pleaded guilty and was given a six-to-12-month sentence and a $350 fine, all suspended for two years, and two years probation. Six months later, he was accused of violating probation or parole, which was found to be true, and he was given a 12-month sentence.

Bates was arrested on a felony theft charge in April 2014. Five months later, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was given a 12-month sentence with 136 days of time served credit.

In January 2016, in Nashua, he was accused of three counts of acts prohibited. He pleaded guilty to a single count and received another suspended sentence. In May 2019, Bates was found to be in violation of probation or parole and was given a 12-month sentence with 212 days of time served credit.

The Nashua Police Department requests anyone with more information about this incident to contact the Crime Line at 603-589-1665.

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