Man Charged With Exploiting Elderly Person In Merrimack

MERRIMACK, NH — A 60-year-old Manchester man was arrested on a warrant this week, charging him with financially exploiting an elderly woman in Merrimack. Police say that Henry Pratte took advantage of the woman's credit card after doing air conditioning work at her house in 2018. The woman has dementia, police

Merrimack police said that October 2018, they received a report from the woman's adult son about some suspicious charges on her credit card. Police determined that the credit card charges are from when Pratte worked in the woman's house in August of that year, servicing air conditioning wall units. Police say that at that time, Pratte convinced the woman to sign up and pre-pay for an annual service contract, which costs $688.

"The contract was so ambiguous and appeared to include services that the victim did not require and/or would not be (possibly) based on the type of heating or cooling system in that residence," according to Merrimack police.

During the police investigation, Pratte told police that he was not aware that the elderly woman had memory issues, and he offered to reimburse some of the charges. But after several months went by, Pratte still had not reimbursed her, police say, and "it became apparent" that he did not intend to do so, according to Merrimack police.

A warrant for Pratte's arrest was issued in March 2019, charging him with financial exploitation of an elderly, disabled or impaired adult. Pratte was arrested on the warrant in Derry around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and Merrimack police took him into custody.

Pratte was released on personal recognizance bail, and his arraignment is scheduled for June 4 at Merrimack District Court.