Investigator: DNA Links Former Concord Teacher to Drug Smuggling

The investigation into a former Concord School District teacher allegedly involved in smuggling drugs to a former student in the New Hampshire State Prison indicates that investigators were able to find probably cause after connecting her saliva on an envelope to the drugs.

Peggy Sinclair, 50, was arrested on Aug. 29, on six felony counts, including possession of controlled drugs, conspiracy to commit, and delivery of articles to prisoners, and a default or breach of bail conditions charge.

According to a court document, Concord Police and other agencies began an investigation into Matthew Peters, Sinclair’s former student, after a violent carjacking and drug deal gone bad on Redington Road earlier this year. Investigators received “credible information” that the white supremacist gang, The Brotherhood of White Warriors (BOWW), were responsible for the incident and were trying to build “a profitable criminal enterprise outside of the prison walls.”

Peters was identified as a “street captain” of the organization and was believed to be the “driving force” behind the gang’s activities in Concord, according to an investigation.

Sinclair, the investigation alleged, was married and teaching fifth-grade at Broken Ground Elementary School when she was identified as one of Matthew’s girlfriends who “provided financial support to him” and other members of the gang still inside the prison. She allegedly helped Peters obtain a vehicle and apartment downtown and also allegedly placed money on phone cards and gave them Green Dot credit card numbers that were used by prisoners involved in the gang.

Police also alleged that during this time, Sinclair began smuggling drugs, specifically, Suboxone, a semi-synthetic opiate, into the prison. The Suboxone comes in thin strips that are placed under the tongue and absorbed into the system. They are mostly used for treating those addicted to opiates but are now being abused by users, the investigator wrote in the report. A single strip sells for between $100 and $125 inside prison.

In the spring of this year, Peters and Sinclair were both arrested on separate charges. In late April, according to school officials, Sinclair took a leave of absence from the district but was later cleared of the charges. Peters, however, who was out on parole, was sent back to the state prison and reportedly began calling Sinclair’s cellphone, calls that were recorded by the Department of Corrections, like all calls coming into and out of the prison. Investigators allege that Peters and Sinclair spoke in code about smuggling Suboxone into the prison, often referring to it to “pictures” and “resumes.”

In one call, in May, Peters allegedly asked Sinclair if she mailed any letters. She reportedly said she had a letter coming but it was waiting for “a certain part of the procedure” but said it would be in the mail by 5 p.m. Later in the day, Sinclair allegedly told Peters the letter was put “right in the postman’s hand.”

Investigators alerted the mailroom at the prison to be on the lookout for the letter, which they later found. The letter, investigators reported, had a non-existent return address on it and it allegedly contained two Suboxone strips inside.

The investigator wrote that the strips were found behind a false wall, “a second envelope that had been cut up and inserted inside, creating a space in which the film was hidden.”

On June 2, during another call, Sinclair allegedly told Peters that she had contacted another person in Manchester in an effort to help settle his drug debts. During that call, Peters allegedly told Sinclair that the person had connections to “cameras” and Sinclair allegedly told Peters they had obtained four “pictures” and would mail them soon.

In a separate call later in the day, Sinclair allegedly let Peters know that a friend of his, another prisoner, would be receiving a letter from a girl in Pembroke. Peters allegedly told Sinclair she was “the best.” That letter was also intercepted and two strips were found inside, according to an investigator.

The New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory investigated the letters and DNA was obtained from the saliva left on the envelopes. The saliva was determined to be from “the same female source.”

Investigators petitioned for a search warrant and were granted one, seeking a sample of Sinclair’s DNA on Aug. 21, and she reportedly provided two swabs from her cheeks.

On Aug. 23, Superintendent Dr. Chris Rath told the Concord Monitor that Sinclair had resigned her position after reaching a “mutual agreement” with the district.

Five days later, on Aug. 28, the state police lab reported that Sinclair’s DNA allegedly matched the DNA left on the envelopes. The next day, she was arrested.

Since the alleged crimes took place when Sinclair was out on bail on the previous drug arrest that she was later cleared of, the default charge was added to the charges.

Both Rath and Larry Prince, the human resources director of the Concord School District, did not return an email requesting the financial information in the separation agreement with Sinclair, information that is accessible under the state’s 91A Right-to-Know law.

Rath also did not return an email requesting a copy of the announcement of the agreement with Sinclair that was sent to the Monitor a week ago.