West Alton Marina manager arrest for alleged sex crimes

[John Mercier]

The Chief wouldn't know anymore about the NH statute than the statute itself.

It is really a matter of whether the plaintiff's lawyers can convince a judge that the case has standing in NH.

[TiltonBB]

The investigation concluded there was “insufficient evidence to meet the State’s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Chief Burpee committed a crime."

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...748baf96d.html

[wentworthwhitbreadIII]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The investigation concluded there was “insufficient evidence to meet the State’s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Chief Burpee committed a crime."

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...748baf96d.html

Aka not easily found guilty but also not innocent. Not the kind of person I’d choose to enforce the law in my neighborhood.


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[knowit]

Drove through WAM for the first time the other day. I have to say it looks like a shanty town with all those gazebos. Quite disgusting and depressing if you ask me. Do people camp in those things? Skid Row is great description for it. Just my opinion.

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by knowit

Drove through WAM for the first time the other day. I have to say it looks like a shanty town with all those gazebos. Quite disgusting and depressing if you ask me. Do people camp in those things? Skid Row is great description for it. Just my opinion.

Do they, yes. But I believe they are not supposed to be for “sleeping” in.

[knowit]

Originally Posted by Lakeboater

Do they, yes. But I believe they are not supposed to be for “sleeping” in.

That is absolutely disgusting.

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by knowit

That is absolutely disgusting.

My comment about sleeping in the cabanas was that I believe they are not supposed to per the town of Alton. Much like some of the campgrounds can’t have anyone year round.

[Cobaltdeadhead]

I have one of the Cabana slips at WAM and I personally think it's the absolute best setup of any marina on the lake. I have a 16 x 12 deck right behind my slip with a 12 x 12 Cabana on it, place to grill and parking spot immediately behind it, nice furnishings, cable TV, WiFi, full sized fridge, all with views of the channel and My Major. We absolutely love it.

It's just a gorgeous spot to relax and watch the boats go by when my family isn't out on the water. It's also really nice to have when a quick shower comes through. Go hang out in the Cabana and wait for it to pass, then head back out. All of our Cabana neighbors are wonderful families, always people milling about, having drinks and sharing laughs.

[LikeLakes]

Originally Posted by Cobaltdeadhead

I have one of the Cabana slips at WAM and I personally think it's the absolute best setup of any marina on the lake. I have a 16 x 12 deck right behind my slip with a 12 x 12 Cabana on it, place to grill and parking spot immediately behind it, nice furnishings, cable TV, WiFi, full sized fridge, all with views of the channel and My Major. We absolutely love it.

It's just a gorgeous spot to relax and watch the boats go by when my family isn't out on the water. It's also really nice to have when a quick shower comes through. Go hang out in the Cabana and wait for it to pass, then head back out. All of our Cabana neighbors are wonderful families, always people milling about, having drinks and sharing laughs.

That looks like a really great setup.

[wentworthwhitbreadIII]

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

That looks like a really great setup.

Interesting to see the Gilford Chief of Police referenced multiple times in this lawsuit but not being named personally. If the allegations are true then it's a bit more than disconcerting that he was on paid administrative leave for 4 months https://dockets.justia.com/docket/ne...2cv00240/59373


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[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by Cobaltdeadhead

I have one of the Cabana slips at WAM and I personally think it's the absolute best setup of any marina on the lake. I have a 16 x 12 deck right behind my slip with a 12 x 12 Cabana on it, place to grill and parking spot immediately behind it, nice furnishings, cable TV, WiFi, full sized fridge, all with views of the channel and My Major. We absolutely love it.

It's just a gorgeous spot to relax and watch the boats go by when my family isn't out on the water. It's also really nice to have when a quick shower comes through. Go hang out in the Cabana and wait for it to pass, then head back out. All of our Cabana neighbors are wonderful families, always people milling about, having drinks and sharing laughs.

Looks GREAT, but I dont recall the "tents" down by the ramp looking that nice. Maybe things have changed quite a bit since the pandemic???

[mowtorman]

I had reason to go there once.. Got a tour the whole shooting match. Teenagers were around. Talk about how much "fun' everyone was having. A forum member posted that he knew there was a problem from a summer camp 35 years ago. Hundreds of people around every day all summer and no one thought any the worse of anything? Sometimes we don't see what we don't want to.

In these touchy times I knew I wouldn't return when I drove out. To express thoughts on your perceptions without any specific tales puts you on the wrong side of being"correct". These days no matter what you say someone is offended, so I tend to say little or I'm always carefully choosing my words. I wonder how much goes unmentioned or unnoticed in these politically correct times. I didn't mention anything about it until now.

Much different than my childhood when we were still coming off WWII and getting into Vietnam. As kids we used all the incorrect words all the time and called our best friends the worst ones when we were mad...then we either fought it out or got over it.

Who would think a summer job at an established business in the lakes region could be so impactful?

[John Mercier]

As a child, if I used ''incorrect words'', regardless of the situation, I got the strap and sent to my room without dinner.

Seems my grandparents were not so willing to put up with me being ill-mannered.

[mowtorman]

My mistake respect for elders at home and school.....but running around the neighborhood was a different story.

Think about how incorrect the culture was...."Hop Sing" on Bonanza..... McHale's Navy, Combat, Rat Patrol, Hogan's Heroes.....the norm.

[LikeLakes]

Not sure what point you're trying to make.

IMO the good news about it being now, not 40 or 50 years ago, is that the kids will be believed and supported, the criminals will be tried and will go to jail, and no local bigwig or rich uncle or politician will step in to save these hideous piles of you-know-what.

[mowtorman]

I agree. Hopefully the truth will be known. Point is you have to be careful what you say and how you say it all the time. Unfortunately whatever may have happened... went on in plain sight with nothing said by anyone for a long time.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by mowtorman

went on in plain sight with nothing said by anyone for a long time.

I find that almost as troubling as the fact that this nightmare happened.

I guess thats how some here can talk about the NH that has no problems with violence.

• Just look the other way and it didnt happen.
  
• Dont talk about problems and they wont exist.
  
• Its a great place so ignore little things like this.
  
• Its not our kids and not our problem,,,

Yup all is well when you compartmentalize things properly.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

As a child, if I used ''incorrect words'', regardless of the situation, I got the strap and sent to my room without dinner.

Seems my grandparents were not so willing to put up with me being ill-mannered.

God, that horrifying,,,

But its also very telling.

That is not a "teaching moment" thats unquestionable abuse.

Sorry, no child should suffer such inhuman treatment, weather you realize it or not, it scars you for life.

I heard of worse, but not much.

Hopefully such is no longer tolerated in most places. No wonder we have so mange damaged people in our society.

Horrifying,,,

[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

God, that horrifying,,,

But its also very telling.

That is not a "teaching moment" thats unquestionable abuse.

Sorry, no child should suffer such inhuman treatment, weather you realize it or not, it scars you for life.

I heard of worse, but not much.

Hopefully such is no longer tolerated in most places. No wonder we have so mange damaged people in our society.

Horrifying,,,

haha I would have welcomed a strap instead of the standard two by four. Those moments certainly taught us. No “timeouts” or negotiations or “make good choices”. Just do as you’re told because you were told, no explanation necessary or deserved, and if it’s not done fast enough then the consequences will be paid. Much fewer people got screwed up in the old system.


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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by LoveLakeLife

haha I would have welcomed a strap instead of the standard two by four. Those moments certainly taught us. No “timeouts” or negotiations or “make good choices”. Just do as you’re told because you were told, no explanation necessary or deserved, and if it’s not done fast enough then the consequences will be paid. Much fewer people got screwed up in the old system.


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This is horrifying.

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[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

This is horrifying.

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Sadly the victims too often rationalize it as their family was just trying to raise them well, but in reality it was/is violent crime perpetrated behind closed doors and against those who both cannot fight back or speak out about it.

Its a crime and a sickness.

I worked with a genuinely kind person, that told me how he and his multiple brothers were lined up every week and the father picked one of them out to beat the hell out of just as a warning to all of them to keep in line. He said by the age of 16 each of them left home, but carried the scars their whole like. At a funeral service for one of them, the eldest spoke and shared a bit of that dark family history, and how difficult it was to even think about it let alone talk about it and at his advanced age he was only then able to grasp the terrible impact it had on him his whole life. It was hard to listen to, so I cant even imagine what that was like to live through,,,

Beating a child with a strap for incorrectly using a word, or beating them simply as an example, and the gross sexual abuse this thread speaks to is beyond reproach, its inexcusable!


As we both agree, horrifying seems to be the best description for all these such situations. Horrifying,,,

[TiltonBB]

Another victim. Sixth suit filed.

“The types of things that were done to Jack, have been occurring at the marina for many years,” the suit says

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...5e0a63dc6.html

[lagoon]

If you look for statistics on the number of victims of each pedophiles at the CDC you will be stunned. I am sure there are more to come in this case and indeed I would not be surprised if there are other victims from other locations where these two alleged abusers spent time before.

People who abuse youth like this do not belong in society at all. Now we will hear about their rights as defendants, and how they misunderstood etc.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by lagoon

If you look for statistics on the number of victims of each pedophiles at the CDC you will be stunned. I am sure there are more to come in this case and indeed I would not be surprised if there are other victims from other locations where these two alleged abusers spent time before.

People who abuse youth like this do not belong in society at all. Now we will hear about their rights as defendants, and how they misunderstood etc.

100% agree, and if found guilty, the wood chipper would be suitable. And if not that, life at hard labor, time to bring back the rock pile and the chain gang as there is no reforming people like this, they simply need to suffer a life of punishment equal to or more than what their victims have and will suffer.

Jails need to be operated as facilities for violent offenders and non-violent criminals. And the ones for violent criminals should not have amenities, they are places of punishment not timeouts!

[dickiej]

Even pedophiles will admit they can’t be cured….they need to be removed from society….forever.

[mowtorman]

Vermont in the 80s had a model program for sexual offenders run by Dr. Pithers.

Google for details not fit for this forum. Aversive program with high recidivism rates.

I don't know if they still use it...one victim of a reoffender is too many.

It's like when I got bit by a dog and the owner said "he hasn't bit anyone in 3 years".

Thanks a lot time to put that dog down huh?

[Poor Richard]

Attn: LoveLakeLife

I apologize for the way I interacted with you in this thread a few weeks ago.

I've sent you a PM that elaborates a bit on why I reacted the way I did and, even though it doesn't excuse my responses, I am still sorry for the way I spoke to you.

[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by Poor Richard

Attn: LoveLakeLife
I apologize for the way I interacted with you in this thread a few weeks ago.
I've sent you a PM that elaborates a bit on why I reacted the way I did and, even though it doesn't excuse my responses, I am still sorry for the way I spoke to you.

Poor Richard, I reread your posts and I don't see any need for an apology. You said LLL has a low IQ. There are different types of intelligence, namely intellectual and social-emotional. The parenting style that LLL advocated shows a low understanding of children's needs. There is now a huge body of research-based knowledge about the aftermath of abuse, going back to at least the 1940s. Come on, we can even see the impact of abuse on dogs!

LLL made the following statements:

• It’s problematic that some elementary schools have psychologists.
• “Self esteem” by definition is established by oneself, not outside influences.
• Mental “scarring” is internally manufactured and then whines about like “stress”. Non-snowflakes choose their own attitude.
• Much fewer people got screwed up in the old system.

Those statements are factually incorrect and unenlightened. If you think that saying that LLL has a low IQ was rude, fine, but please don't let go of your beliefs about the damage caused by child abuse, because they have been proven by a tremendous amount of research.

If you read between the lines in this thread you might guess that several posters are reacting emotionally to what happened at the marina due to their own experiences of abuse, whether it happened to them, a family member, etc. That's not surprising---the CDC says that at least 1 in 7 U.S. children experiences abuse or neglect each year. That's an epidemic. For every person with views like LLL's who deny the harm caused by abuse, there are a hundred people who know the opposite because they experienced it or witnessed it. Knowing the truth and reacting emotionally when someone denies the reality of what child abuse does to a person right through adulthood needs no apology! I'm sorry you felt obligated to make a public apology. On the contrary, an apology was owed to you.

[John Mercier]

I think you are confusing punishment with abuse.

The Greatest Generation endured the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression (Dust Bowl), and WWII because they were forced to become mentally hard even as children.

[Poor Richard]

There's no need to go back over everything. Having a difference of opinion is not the "ok" to start cutting people down. I felt I went too far and that's that.

Its been a challenge to keep a level head about the happenings at WAM. I had a great relationship with John...the laughs, the stories...all erased and I'm gutted knowing how much good he has to offer and still he chose to go another route. "Disappointed" doesn't even scratch the surface.

As far as my thoughts on adults hitting children, it's really not a great idea at all.

[SailinAway]

Originally Posted by Poor Richard

Its been a challenge to keep a level head about the happenings at WAM. I had a great relationship with John...the laughs, the stories...all erased and I'm gutted knowing how much good he has to offer and still he chose to go another route. "Disappointed" doesn't even scratch the surface.

It's very hard to reconcile two opposite things that you know about a person. But sometimes people really are two different people and both sides of them are true.

I once had a college professor who I revered. He went way out of his way to help me personally and professionally and we stayed in contact for decades after I graduated. Years later he committed a sexual crime that turned him into a social outcast. This was totally crushing for me. I had to watch this being played out in the media day after day.

More recently, I had a very positive business relationship with someone
who treated me with total respect and was very helpful to my own client. He was later arrested on multiple accounts of child abuse and child pornography. I was floored when I read about what he had done. When he was arrested, I reflected on the tremendous harm that predators do all across society. Think about all the lost time and money and grief they cause to their victims; the victims' families; their own wife, children, and extended family; judges, lawyers, and jurors; the company they work for and their coworkers; their customers who put their faith in them; and other people they interacted with, like youth groups. It is very hard to understand what goes on in their minds---why they would jeopardize everything they have for these acts.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by knowit

Drove through WAM for the first time the other day. I have to say it looks like a shanty town with all those gazebos. Quite disgusting and depressing if you ask me. Do people camp in those things? Skid Row is great description for it. Just my opinion.

I docked at WAM for several years. Most of the dock areas that had cabana space behind the docks were home to cruisers for the most part. The cabanas were used for some storage, but mainly for sitting off the boat to eat and entertain.

The one thing I can say is that the areas were not like a shanty town. The areas around them were always neat. On more than one occasion, i did visit with friends at the marina who had a cabana and found it nice to get away from the bugs or out of the rain.

Obviously, your opinion is far different from mine. I don't think you will find many people who would spend $200 per linear foot to dock their boat, ie, 35' boat = $7000.

Dave

[knowit]

Well, you know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
If I had a cruiser boat all my entertaining would be on the boat. Not in some shanty makeshift poor man’s vacation home! And as far as $200 a linear foot, that means nothing. There are plenty of folks with more money than brains on the lake. This whole fiasco is gonna make a great movie. I can only hope they film it in the shanty town. That would be amazing.

[LikeLakes]

Originally Posted by knowit

Well, you know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
If I had a cruiser boat all my entertaining would be on the boat. Not in some shanty makeshift poor man’s vacation home! And as far as $200 a linear foot, that means nothing. There are plenty of folks with more money than brains on the lake. This whole fiasco is gonna make a great movie. I can only hope they film it in the shanty town. That would be amazing.

So if people don't do their lake experience exactly like you, what they are doing is disgusting? Strange outlook, kind of narrow view of things IMO.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by knowit

Drove through WAM for the first time the other day. I have to say it looks like a shanty town with all those gazebos. Quite disgusting and depressing if you ask me. Do people camp in those things? Skid Row is great description for it. Just my opinion.

I havent been in a couple of years, but in the past we were regulars there, used the launch ramp for day trips.

The gazebos you reference were very inconsistent, some were kept very neat and the people appeared very quiet and friendly, while others kinda fit your description and had loud and rowdy characters hanging out.

But then its the same at the sand bars and any town dock and any waterfront restaurant. Winnipesaukee attracts the whole spectrum.

In the last 20 years I would not keep a boat on wet slip, too many problems with the bottom getting nasty, and the boat always dirty from being out in the open so we trailered.

The last couple of years we have been at Paugas Bay Marina in the valet program and its so much better than a wet slip. Their location is great and they have been outstanding to work with.

I still miss having the boat at home to clean and do maintenance, but dont miss having to drive extra miles to find a ramp and deal with the ramp traffic and parking challenges.

And as far as WAM, I would find it hard to go back knowing what was going on there. Sorry but it would bother me to support such a place until EVERYONE associated with that happened is gone and its under new ownership and management.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

And as far as WAM, I would find it hard to go back knowing what was going on there. Sorry but it would bother me to support such a place until EVERYONE associated with that happened is gone and its under new ownership and management.

Couldn’t agree more with this statement!

Dan

[LikeLakes]

Agree completely.

[mcdude]

From WMUR today
https://www.wmur.com/article/west-al...arges/40644868

[mrhill98]

These scams need to be put away for years!! I hope the victims get all they need for support and therapy and can heal. Coming soon Irwin of west alton.... I hope these two pedophiles pay with everything they have and then some!

[Loventhelake]

Originally Posted by mrhill98

These scams need to be put away for years!! I hope the victims get all they need for support and therapy and can heal. Coming soon Irwin of west alton.... I hope these two pedophiles pay with everything they have and then some!

Never happen, Irwin’s has ZERO interest in West Alton.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by Loventhelake

Never happen, Irwin’s has ZERO interest in West Alton.

Too bad, its a great opportunity but they would have to do a lot of PR work to clean up the taint this place currently has.

Just thinking about what happened there is sickening,,,

Hopefully someone will buy it, change the name, and turn it into a role model establishment where local kids can get a good summer job and be treated properly and actually have some fun rather than being abused.

I cannot think of a better summer job experience than working at a marina if you are treated properly and decently. I see the kids working at PBM and it looks pretty damn good to me! But they are a truly outstanding outfit. So happy to be there and SOOOOO happy to know I was not funding the horrifying events that were occurring at WAM.