Local Bar Implicated in Beating Death

The corporation that owns The Page Sports Bar and Restaurant in Portsmouth could face a $100,000 fine and lose its liquor license if convicted of a felony charge brought by Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams.

During a press conference at the Portsmouth Police Department on Tuesday, Reams and Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen DuBois explained that New Adventure Entertainment, LLC, the corporation that owns The Page, has been charged with serving alcohol to patrons in a restricted area.

Reams said the attorney who represents the corporation has been served with a criminal complaint and the corporation will be arraigned in Portsmouth Circuit Court on June 3. Reams said he will present this felony charge to the Rockingham County Grand Jury for possible indictment.

Joshua Krantz, 24, was found dead in his Dover apartment on Saturday, April 6, after Portsmouth Police say while dancing in the Stadium Lounge on the night of April 5.

Krantz grew up in Epping.

An investigation by Portsmouth and Dover police revealed that the cause of death was a fractured skull, resulting in an acute epidural hematoma. The manner of death – homicide, natural causes, etc. – has been marked as pending investigation by the state medical examiner's office.

at the Rockingham County Jail after he was charged with a felony of first degree assault. The Page owners closed the Stadium Lounge a week after Krantz's death.

During the course of the Portsmouth Police investigation into Krantz's death, police found The Page staff was serving alcohol in the Stadium Lounge, which is a restricted area, according to New Hampshire Liquor Commission statutes.

DuBois said that if The Page had followed the state Liquor Commission statutes and not allowed alcohol to be served in the lounge, "we might not be following a death investigation right now."

By bringing this new felony charge against The Page's corporation, Reams said, "We are hoping to change the way this corporation does business."

Reams said this same tactic has worked well with three other establishments that were also brought up on similar charges in the past three years: Telly's in Epping, Margarita's in Exeter and Fat Belly's Bar and Grill in downtown Portsmouth. Those cases ended in plea bargains where the establishments pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, paid hefty fines, but kept their liquor licenses and stayed in business, Reams said.

DuBois said The Page has two charges pending before the New Hampshire Liquor Commission stemming from a sting that was conducted by Portsmouth Police officers and Liquor Commission Enforcement Bureau officers on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, 2012, "...and that was on the heels of another serious assault that had occurred in July (2012)," DuBois said.

Reams said The Page has had several issues and state liquor violations since it opened in 2008.

"Right now The Page now gets more calls for service than any other business in downtown Portsmouth," he said.

DuBois said The Page's liquor license expires on May 31 and is up for renewal. DuBois said the City Council has also asked him to prepare a report about The Page, which means the council could choose to intervene in the state Liquor Commission proceedings regarding The Page's liquor license renewal.