Box Cutter Kidnapper Held on $20K Bail

[Story originally posted at 2:39 p.m. Updated at 3:58 p.m.]

An attempted kidnapper from Newburyport, Mass., was held $20,000 cash or surety bail Monday following a video arraignment on five charges in Hampton District Court.

William Larochelle, 31, was arraigned Monday morning on three felonies — attempt to commit kidnapping, felony armed robbery, and felony criminal threatening (use of deadly weapon) — as well as a Class A misdemeanor count of resisting arrest and a Class A misdemeanor count of theft from motor vehicle, according to court staff.


Larochelle was arrested Friday morning after attempting to use a box cutter to kidnap a woman getting out her car outside the North Hampton Shaw's Supermarket at about 10:30 a.m.

Larochelle allegedly demanded the woman transport him to Maine. The Crimeline for the Hamptons posted on its Facebook page that the victim immediately yelled and made "noise" when the man displayed the box cutter and made his demand, which helped prevent the kidnapping.

"Within a very few seconds three men from various areas of the parking lot were on the way to her aid," posted the Crimeline.

Larochelle allegedly ran off and was apprehended by police after attempting to hide in a wooded area near Fern Crossing, the plaza across the street.

A variety of bail conditions were set for Larochelle on Monday, including an order that he would have no contact with the victim as well as the fact that he must undergo a "dangerousness evaluation" before his release, according to court staff. A hearing would be held for that evaluation before his release. 

Larochelle is scheduled for a probable cause hearing Hampton District Court at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30.