CONCORD (NH)
Concord Monitor
August 17, 2018
By Alyssa Dandrea
An ex-St. Paul’s School teacher who conspired with a former student to lie to a grand jury about their relationship left a Concord courtroom in handcuffs Friday after pleading guilty to lesser charges.
David Pook, 48, of Warner will spend four months in county jail on misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit false swearing and criminal contempt of court. As part of a plea agreement, all felony charges were dismissed.
Pook was arrested by the state attorney general’s office in February as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the Concord prep school’s handling of sexual misconduct and assault allegations over several decades. Deputy Attorney General Jane Young said Friday that the broader investigation was negatively affected as prosecutors turned their attention to Pook, who schemed with a former student, Stephanie O’Connell, to lie under oath.
“The state is investigating St. Paul’s School for actions of students. The conduct of this defendant and the co-conspirator sidetracked this investigation for months because of their concerted effort to lie,” Young said.
As a condition of his 120-day sentence, Pook is prohibited from holding another teaching job in New Hampshire.
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