Rittenhour

NASHUA – Jorjiana Rittenhour, one of five people Nashua police arrested late last week as part of an Operation Granite Shield drug sweep, had been out on bail in connection with the fatal shooting last summer of Nashua native Steven Asselin.

Rittenhour, 33, whose address Nashua police list as 37 Ernest Ave., Exeter, but who said at the time of the man’s death she was from the northwestern Ohio town of McGuffrey, was charged Friday with one count of possession of methamphetamine, a Class B felony, and ordered held pending arraignment, police said.

She had previously been free on bail on one felony count of negligent homicide, with which she was charged by Manchester police following an investigation into the Aug. 22 shooting death of Asselin, who at the time lived in an apartment building on Bridge Street in Manchester.

Police said at the time that Asselin, 37, sustained a fatal gunshot wound in the early-morning shooting. Detectives determined Rittenhour was allegedly playing with a handgun when it went off, resulting in the injuries from which Asselin later died, they said.

Asselin was an executive chef at a Manchester restaurant at the time of his death. He was born in Nashua, and his parents were Merrimack residents, according to his obituary.

Asselin was also survived by a son, who lived in New Boston at the time.

Information on the current status of Rittenhour’s negligent homicide case wasn’t immediately available.

According to news stories at the time, she was arraigned the day after her August arrest and ordered held on $100,000 bail. Reports don’t specify if the bail was cash only or cash or surety, nor is there any indication the bail was modified or amended.

But at some point Rittenhour made bail, and the fact Friday’s arrest took place while she was still out on bail makes it likely she will be charged with violating the terms of her bail conditions.

Nashua police, in announcing Friday’s Granite Shield arrests, didn’t give a specific date for her arraignment, stating only that she was being held in jail and her arraignment would take place “on a future date.”

Arrested along with Rittenhour on Friday were Nashua residents Justin Greenwood, 42, of 36 Sargents Ave., charged with one count of criminal liability for the conduct of another to sale of methamphetamine; Katelyn Ferguson, 19, of 7 Eric Avenue, one count each of sale of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine; Tori Goulette, 41, of 243 Main St., Apt. 41, one count each, possession of Clozapine, and unlawful possession of the prescription drug Gabapentin; and Lawrence, Mass. resident Jose Torres, 28, of 61 Wesley St., one count each of possession of a oxycodone hydrochloride, and possession of marijuana.

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