Man shot by police in Charlestown receives prison sentence

The sentence imposed was two to six months in N.H. State Prison and 12 months in Sullivan County jail, with the jail term suspended for three years.

A Claremont man was sentenced Monday after a 2025 confrontation in Charlestown that ended with a police officer shooting him when he advanced with a knife.

Christian Paquette, 23, admitted in Sullivan County Superior Court to felony criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, one misdemeanor count of disobeying an officer for not stopping his vehicle, and two violations tied to driving an unregistered vehicle and reckless driving.

According to the N.H. Attorney General’s Office, the case began when Charlestown Police Officer Jacob Sands tried to stop Paquette for speeding in an unregistered vehicle. Prosecutors said Paquette then led Sands on a chase that reached 90 mph on Claremont Road.

After abandoning the car, Paquette ran on foot, and investigators said he was holding a knife that he would not drop. The attorney general’s office said he moved toward Sands, prompting the officer to fire several rounds. Officials later concluded that Sands’ use of force was legally justified.

Paquette was struck in the stomach and arm and spent several weeks in the hospital, authorities said.

The sentence imposed was two to six months in N.H. State Prison and 12 months in Sullivan County jail, with the jail term suspended for three years. He was also ordered to pay about $500 in penalties and fines.