A local man is being held on $5,000 cash bail after he allegedly threatened to disembowel another man with a knife.

Chaz K. Hartford, 20, of 6 North Main St., was arrested in District Court on a felony charge of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. Police say he used a knife when he threatened a man on Lafayette Street.

"If you text or call my girlfriend again I will cut your guts out," Hartford allegedly said as he pulled a knife on a man, a complaint filed in court says.

This is only the latest in a number of recent arrests involving Hartford. On Aug. 25, he was charged with robbery and receiving stolen property. The next day, he was charged with criminal mischief, records say.

He has also been charged in the past with criminal threatening with a metal pipe, animal cruelty and multiple charges stemming from an incident in January 2008 when he allegedly shot rounds from a paintball gun at cars, buildings and people in the city.

Hartford was also one of 3 teens that were involved in a car crash that killed a 17-year-old Rochester girl in November of 2007.  Hartford was in the car operated by 16-year-old Tad Emerson of Dover, NH that hit a tree, injuring two and killing Emilee Murray of Rochester, NH.

Hartford entered no plea to the latest felony charge, as District Court has no jurisdiction to try felonies. The case will be heard at a probable cause hearing on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.

Update 3/24/10:  A Rochester man charged with forcefully stealing a teenager's bicycle in July 2009 and who authorities say has a history of bullying received a year in jail.

  (Photo courtesy of Foster's Daily Democrat)  Chaz Hartford, 20, of 44 Lafayette St., pleaded guilty in Strafford County Superior Court to one felony charge of robbery. He received a year long jail sentence, but will be eligible for supervised release on the step-down program if he completes the jail's Therapeutic Community counseling program.

The robbery charge stemmed from a July 25, 2009, incident on Lafayette Street.

Police Capt. Paul Callaghan said Hartford approached a 15-year-old and said he wanted to buy the boy's bicycle. When the boy said it was not for sale, Hartford told him he was going to steal it and would smash the boy's head into the ground, Callaghan said.  The victim then relented and gave him the bicycle, he said.

Police arrested Hartford after he attempted to sell the bicycle at a local bike shop, Callaghan said.

County Attorney Thomas Velardi said he considered the incident as more than mere bullying, saying that the violent theft of the bicycle classified it as a felony robbery.

Velardi said that, particularly with younger defendants, prosecutors try to build in rehabilitation aspects to sentences when they see warning signs.

He said the opportunity for Hartford to enter Therapeutic Community and receive supervised release leaves it up to the defendant whether he simply wants to serve the year in jail or spend it doing something productive.

Hartford received 96 days of pretrial confinement credit.

Reference:

Foster's Daily Democrat