Hampton Teen Free on Suspended Sentence Arrested Again

A Hampton teen who received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty in a 2011 home break-in case has been arrested again, which could lead to time behind bars.

Rockingham County sheriffs arrested Jordan Welch, 18, of 27 Fairfield Drive, on two probation violation charges — one for receiving stolen property, the other for criminal trespassing — on March 20.

Welch was recently given a 12-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to criminal trespassing. That lesser charge was issued after Welch was indicted on two counts of being an accomplice to burglary in connection to two different break-ins at the same North Hampton home in December 2011.

Police have said Welch and three others were allegedly looking for drugs when they broke into a home on Slate Run Road in North Hampton on Dec. 20, 2011, just nine days after breaking into the home for the first time on Dec. 11, 2011.

Police have said there were no drugs in the home, and the teens instead stole an Xbox 360, several Xbox games and a Dell laptop during the break-in. Police have said the teens later pawned or sold the items to the Hawk Shop in Portsmouth and GameStop in Newington.

Assistant County Attorney Jennifer Kunsch, the prosecutor assigned to the case, couldn't immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Welch has previously served time at the Rockingham County House of Corrections, and was charged with resisting detention and possession of a controlled drug on Feb. 26, 2012, during a large illegal drinking party at a home owned by North Hampton Budget Committee member David Peck.

Welch was also charged with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and resisting arrest by New Hampshire State Police in connection to the same house party.

Welch's March 20 probation violation arrest was reported by county sheriffs at the same time as 15 other arrests.