On July 21st, 2013 at approximately 7:10 pm, members of the Nashua Police Department Patrol Division arrested Matthew Chapman, 36, and his wife Alicia Chapman, age 27, both of 60 Nashua Road, Pepperell, Massachusetts. Matthew Chapman has been charged with False Reports as to Explosives, Class B Felony and Criminal Liability to Theft by Deception, Class A Misdemeanor. Alicia Chapman has been charged with Theft by Deception, Class A Misdemeanor.
At approximately 6:18 p.m. the Nashua Police Department received a report of a bomb threat at a local department store, which led to the evacuation of the store. The responding officers identified the individual who made the threat by cellular phone from outside the store as Matthew Chapman, and subsequently arrested him. No bomb or explosives were located.
Alicia Chapman was being detained by loss prevention officers for the alleged theft in the store a short time before the alleged threat. It was reported that she was removing price tags from clothing in the store then replacing them with price tags of lesser value. She then purchased the items at the reduced price. It was also reported that Matthew Chapman assisted his wife by exchanging price tags on clothing also and providing them to her prior to exiting the store while she purchased the clothes. Detectives were notified and furthered this investigation.
A Class B Felony is punishable by up to seven years in the New Hampshire State Prison, exclusive of fines. A class A Misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail, exclusive of fines.
Matthew Chapman was held on $5,000 cash/ surety bail pending his arraignment in the 9th Circuit Nashua District Division Court on July 22nd, 2013. Alicia Chapman was released on personal recognizance pending her arraignment on August 6, 2013
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