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topicnews · October 26, 2024

Portsmouth, NH man charged with school arson and shooting threats

Portsmouth, NH man charged with school arson and shooting threats

PORTSMOUTH — A man who pleaded guilty to starting a fire at Portsmouth Middle School in 2020 was indicted on new charges this month. He is said to have threatened to “burn down all the schools in Portsmouth”, shoot a family member and shoot “police officers and teachers”. according to court documents.

Christoph Berger was charged with three counts of making criminal threats, one of which was related to an allegation of domestic violence, according to charging documents filed in Rockingham County Superior Court. All are Class B felonies.

The charges against the 28-year-old Portsmouth resident all stem from text messages he allegedly sent to a family member on or about July 5.

According to an indictment filed against him, Berger allegedly texted, “Tell the police I’m coming to burn down all the schools in Portsmouth.” The second indictment alleges he texted the same relative: “You can tell the police I’m armed” and dangerous… tear down the dungeons or cops and teachers will be shot. I told them to learn to mind their own business.” The third domestic violence threatening felony charge alleges Berger texted the family member: “I have guns…I will shoot you and go down fighting.”

Mental health of the suspect named in the bail document

A previous bail order filed in Berger’s case stated that he was taking medication to treat his mental health and that “the defense determines that this is a mental health issue.”

Berger waived arraignment on the three charges Wednesday. A proposed order filed Wednesday requires him to remain in preventive detention “based on clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s release will endanger the safety of the defendant or the public.”

Berger was being held at the county jail in Brentwood.

Over the summer, Berger was charged by Portsmouth police in connection with threatening text messages he allegedly sent, court records show. At that time, he was charged with two Class B felony counts of making criminal threats, two Class B felony counts of false public alarm and one Class A felony count of stalking for allegedly violating previous bail conditions against the family member named in court documents. a Class A misdemeanor for criminal threats and a Class B felony for criminal threats against a person with a deadly weapon. The case was referred to the county grand jury in August.

More local news: Ex-Portsmouth officer Aaron Goodwin sued for assault and “emotional trauma.”

The charging documents do not mention the relationship between Berger and his mentioned family member, although previous records indicate that he allegedly sent the threatening statements to his mother via text message.

Attorney Deanna Campbell, a New Hampshire public defender, is representing Berger. She did not respond to a request for comment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kristin Vartanian.

In June 2020, Portsmouth police charged Berger with starting a fire at Portsmouth Middle School in late May of that year and accused him of causing $100,000 in damage by dousing a propane tank with flammable liquid and set him on fire.

Four charges were filed against Berger in this incident, two of which were ultimately dropped by prosecutors. He pleaded guilty in September 2020 to two charges, namely possession of an infernal machine and arson, and was ordered to pay restitution to the Portsmouth School Board, while his prison sentence was suspended pending the suspension of several conditions.

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