Merrimack man pleads guilty to creating false ad to disrupt a special election in Hillsborough County

Apr. 25—A 30-year-old Merrimack man who created a false Craigslist ad pretending to be a candidate pleaded guilty on Monday in Hillsborough Superior Court to the election law offense of false documents, a misdemeanor.

Michael Drouin created a Craigslist advertisement on the day of the Hillsborough District 12 special election, which he represented as having been written by state representative candidate William Boyd. The ad listed Boyd's cell phone number, and was intended to disrupt Boyd's ability to use his cell phone to coordinate campaign efforts on election day, according to a news release from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, which prosecuted the case. Boyd had to shut off his phone due the flood of incoming communications.

Drouin was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was suspended for two years on the condition of good behavior. The Court also ordered Drouin pay a $250 fine with a penalty assessment of $60, and to complete 250 hours of community service. As a consequence of his election law conviction, Drouin has lost the right to vote under Part 1, Article 11 of the New Hampshire Constitution.