Purse-stealing suspect faces court hearing Tuesday

By David Carkhuff

One of two suspects arrested for stealing a woman's purse outside a North Conway video store May 18 faces a probable cause hearing in Northern Carroll County District Court Tuesday, May 31, at 1 p.m.Thomas J. Kasparian, 17, of Grove Street, North Conway, is charged with robbery and accomplice to robbery. A 14-year-old juvenile also was arrested on charges of criminal threatening.Police say the pair robbed a woman of her purse near the Movie Gallery video store on Kearsarge Road in North Conway. The 14-year-old was a Kennett High School student at the time of his arrest, according to Conway Police Chief Ed Wagner.Kasparian was a Kennett High School student in the past but not recently, Wagner said."One of them is not in school, the 17-year-old is not in school. He hasn't been going to that school," Wagner said.The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on May 18, when police were dispatched for a report of an armed robbery."Upon arrival, Conway police were provided with a description of the suspects that were hooded and masked and believed to be armed," a press release from the police department stated. "A perimeter was established at that time. Sgt. (George) Walker and (police dog) K-9 Thor were then dispatched to the area for tracking as the suspects were believed to be in the area of Whitaker Woods. The tracking led to an Oak Street residence where two suspects were taken into custody."Kasparian appeared in District Court of Northern Carroll County for a bail hearing on charges of robbery and accomplice to robbery, both Class B felonies. He was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail held, $30,000 surety and transported to the Carroll County Jail.The police thanked members of the public for their help. A witness spotted the suspects as they were fleeing on foot into Whitaker Woods near the NAPA Auto Store, the police log reported. Other witnesses aided with the pursuit.A weapon was recovered along with other evidence of the crime from the Oak Street address, Wagner reported. The juvenile lives on Oak Street, he confirmed.