PORTSMOUTH Man charged with domestic violence

PORTSMOUTH - A Banfield Road resident was indicted by the most recent Rockingham County grand jury for five charges alleging domestic violence against a household member.

George Patnaude, 70, of 77 Banfield Road, was initially arrested by Portsmouth police, who alleged he strangled and caused third-degree burns to the alleged victim.

Two of the charges for which Patnaude was indicted allege he committed the crime of second-degree assault. One of them alleges on May 23 he engaged in the strangulation of another, while the second alleges he grabbed the alleged victim, who was holding a pot of boiling water, causing it to spill and burn the person.

Patnaude was also indicted for a charge of reckless conduct, which alleges he caused the family member to be severely burned by grabbing them while they held the boiling water. He was also indicted for a charge of criminal threatening alleging he threatened to kill the household member, as well as a count of unprivileged contact which alleges he pulled the person to the ground.

An indictment means the grand jury found enough information to take the case to trial and is not a finding of guilt.