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Merrimack man indicted on charge accusing him of interfering with special town election

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | Dec 1, 2022

NASHUA — A grand jury for Hillsborough County Superior Court South has indicted Merrimack resident Michael Drouin on a charge of interference with communication, a felony offense that accuses Drouin of “knowingly blocking the access of a candidate’s communications equipment or services with the intent of interfering with campaign activity,” according to the indictment.

Drouin, 30, of 5 Vanderbilt Drive, Apt. 106, allegedly posted an ad on Craigslist offering a free trailer, and included the cellphone number belonging to Bill Boyd, then a Merrimack town councilor who was a candidate for state representative in the April 2021 special election that was held to fill the vacancy created by the December 2020 death of Republican state Rep. Dick Hinch, who had served as House Speaker.

According to court documents and a story posted to Nashua Patch, the response to the fake ad jammed Boyd’s cell phone with dozens of text messages and voicemail within a 45-minute period.

An investigation triggered by a complaint filed with the Attorney General’s Election Law unit by state Rep. Joe Sweeney, a Salem Republican and member of the State Republican Committee.

When an investigator contacted him, Drouin said “he was familiar with Craigslist,” but denied creating a fake ad for a free trailer,” according to Patch.

When presented with evidence, Drouin reportedly told the investigator that he allegedly did it “as a joke,” and that he “meant no harm,” court records state.

Drouin also denied the ad had anything to do with the election, calling it “bad timing” for a joke, adding that he “didn’t mean for anything bad to happen.”

As for the outcome of the election, Boyd prevailed by nearly 400 votes over former state Rep. Wendy Thomas.

According to his case file, Drouin is due back in Superior Court on Jan. 10 for a criminal mediation hearing, according to the Patch report.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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