N.H. man adopts Dumpster cat

RYE, N.H. (AP) – A cat found in a trash bin just after Christmas has a new home and a new name.

Glen Swazey, of Hampton, took the calico cat known as Christmas Kitty home from the animal hospital where she was treated.

Swazey said he contacted the hospital about adopting the cat after reading about its ordeal.

Veterinarian technician Heather Good said the hospital received more than 20 calls from people interested in adopting the animal. She said Swazey appeared to be the most devoted and most able to cope with the cat’s health problems.

Vets found Sophia has kidney trouble and will need to be a special diet.

John Schnitzler, the man who found the cat inside a sealed box at the bottom of the trash bin, said he was glad the animal had found a good home.

Sex offender jailed on new charges

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A Sutton man convicted of sexually assaulting a child in Massachusetts is in jail facing new charges involving two girls.

Police said James Johansson, 36, allegedly assaulted the girls while driving them around in his car. Prosecutors said he knew at least one of the girls.

Johansson also is charged with failing to register as a sex offender in New Hampshire. He was previously convicted of indecent assault and battery against a child in Massachusetts.

He was being held at the Merrimack County jail on $60,000 bail and is scheduled to go to trial in April.

Mass. salesman sentenced for rape

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A judge has sentenced a magazine salesman from Massachusetts to 7 to 40 years in prison for raping a local teenager at her home.

Joseph Haniffy, 25, of Chicopee was one of three salesmen charged with raping the 19-year-old. She testified she met the men when they knocked on her door to sell her magazines. She said she played a kissing game with them but did not agree to have sex.

Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Edward Fitzgerald said he hopes the sentence sends a message to the community that no means no.

Haniffy will be required to serve a first sentence of 71/2 to 20 years. Fitzgerald suspended a second sentence of 10 to 20 years on condition of good behavior and the successful completion of a sex offender treatment program.

The woman said Haniffy forced her to perform oral sex on her. She said she then was raped by the three men. Haniffy was convicted of three counts of rape. The two other men charged in the case are awaiting trial.

Colombian pleads guilty to re-entry

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A Colombian citizen faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after he was deported.

Thirty-three-year-old Ignacio Sepulveda-Catano pleaded guilty this week in federal court. He will remain in custody until his sentencing on April 6.

Sepulveda-Catano was deported to Colombia in July of 2003. But in September of last year, a federal immigration agent found him living in an apartment in Nashua.

Police seeking two N.H. robbers

CONWAY, N.H. (AP) – Police are searching for two armed suspects who robbed a North Conway bank Friday afternoon.

The Northway Bank was robbed just after 4:30 p-m. Early police reports said two robbers with small handguns fled the bank on foot.

They were described as wearing gray-hooded sweatshirts, blue faces masks and carrying black bags.

The robbers stole at least $4,000, the Conway Daily Sun reported.

No one was injured. Police searched the area with dogs.

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Santa Pants

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AUBURN, N.H. (AP) – A Massachusetts man arrested for allegedly dropping his pants while dressed as Santa Claus has pleaded guilty to a separate charge.

Richard Mullen, 52, of Malden, Mass. was arrested last month after he was seen walking the halls of Raymond High School. He pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of criminal trespassing.

Sentencing was delayed so Mullen can undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Before the Raymond arrest, Mullen was arrested at a Salem mall after shoppers said they saw a man dressed as Santa Claus drop his pants. Police said Mullen was wearing sweat pants under his costume. They charged him with disorderly conduct. AP-ES-01-07-06 1149EST