NH Fugitive of the Week Arrested by Jaffrey PD Based on Viewer's Tip

Concord, NH – Early this morning, a viewer of WMUR-TV recognized fugitive Benjamin Sprague as his photograph appeared on the television. The viewer immediately contacted the Jaffrey Police Department and provided the whereabouts of Sprague.

Sprague, 27 was being sought on an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Peterborough Police Department for Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault. Since the Peterborough Police Department began the investigation into Sprague, he had gone into hiding, but was known to have ties throughout southern NH including the towns of Merrimack, Litchfield, Peterborough, Jaffrey, Swanzey and Keene, NH. Late last week, the Peterborough Police Department contacted the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force requesting assistance in an effort to locate and arrest Sprague.

As part of the U.S. Marshal’s fugitive investigation, Sprague was aired just today as this week’s 'Fugitive of the Week'. The 'Fugitive of the Week' is broadcast on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch and is prominently featured on the internet. The brief appearance of Sprague on television this morning was all it took, the tip came in and Sprague was arrested without any incident at a Jaffrey residence.

Sprague was arraigned on his outstanding arrest warrant and is currently being held on $50,000.00 cash bail at the Hillsborough County Jail.

Due to the early arrest, the U.S. Marshals have also chosen to feature a second fugitive of the week in hopes that we can get the public’s assistance in locating fugitive Craig Wiggins who has multiple warrants out of the seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine.

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,523 arrests. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses.

Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.