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Hooksett man re-elected as NH Rep. despite recent arrests

HOOKSETT, N.H. — A New Hampshire state representative from Hooksett wanted on a bench warrant was arrested Tuesday after police say they found him outside a polling location while he was running for re-election.

Hooksett police tell FOX25 this is 85-year-old Dick Marple's second arrest this year. The first was in May, for presenting an invalid license, and on Tuesday he was arrested for failing to appear in court.

"We let him know there was an electronic bench warrant active for him and asked him to turn himself in,” Hooksett Police Sgt. Valerie Lamy said.

Police say Marple did turn himself in a short time later, but that may be just the beginning of his woes.

According to the Union Leader, Marple's house was deeded by the town in June, meaning they took ownership in lieu of more than $18,000 in back taxes-- which Marple reportedly says he was exempt from through an "elderly exemption."

FOX25 went to his home to ask about the reports, but a woman at the house said he wasn’t there and refused to comment.

Marple, a Republican who was recently endorsed by the NRA and previously voted to keep marriage recognized only between a man and a woman, was serving his fourth term as the representative from Hooksett at the time of his arrest.

After his arrest Tuesday he won re-election for a fifth term.