‘Jack the Snipper’ suspect gets OK from board to be paroled

By MARK HAYWARD
New Hampshire Union Leader

Published Feb 4, 2012 at 3:00 am (Updated Feb 3, 2012)

The man believed to be Jack the Snipper — the burglar who broke into the rooms of University of New Hampshire women and cut off their nighties as they slept — will likely be freed from prison in April.

Jeffrey Gelinas, 36, appeared before the Adult Parole Board on Thursday and was granted parole, setting him up for 9-month mandatory parole release on April 30, said John Eckert, parole board executive director.

In 2003 and 2004, Durham police had zeroed in on Gelinas as their sole suspect in eight Jack the Snipper burglaries. Gelinas was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempted burglary.

“The reality of it was this was a series of acts that, I wouldn’t want to say paralyzed the community, but was incredibly unsettling for the community,” said Durham police Chief David L. Kurz.

The case drew national media attention. At one point, Durham police consulted with a psychologist, who feared the crimes could progress into violence, Kurz said.

The Snipper never targeted university-owned housing, the chief said. He accessed off-campus apartments by walking down common hallways and checking doors. He never broke a lock or window; he merely walked into unlocked apartments, Kurz said.

“There were some really traumatized victims. Trauma and fear were really permeating the community,” Kurz said.

Durham police issued a release yesterday to notify other communities about Gelinas. Under the terms of the parole, he cannot live in Strafford or Rockingham counties.

Gelinas was arrested in August 2004. He pleaded guilty to the felony charge and was sentenced to 1 1/2 to eight years in New Hampshire State Prison.

He could have earned parole more than five years ago but did not complete sex-offender treatment, said Corrections Department spokesman Jeff Lyons.

The April 30 release is called for under the parole reform law, which establishes a 9-month parole before an inmate reaches the end of a maximum sentence.

“The (parole) board decided we’d rather have this guy out with some programs and supervision so we could monitor him,” Eckert said. He said the biggest challenge will be to find a home for Gelinas.

It’s likely he will be released to a half-way house in Manchester or Concord, Eckert said.

Kurz said Gelinas was married and had a child when arrested in August 2004.

According to media accounts at the time, he was arrested trying to break into an apartment on Young Drive.

He told police then that he had a stressful day at his workplace, the Bedford Walmart. He also told police that when he stresses he starts to wander, losses track of time and looks into windows.

He had told police he had missed his most recent therapy appointment.

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Rck Walters said:

"As a condition of his parole, he is forbidden to come to Rockingham or Strafford counties".I wonder how the other counties feel about that . . .
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kevin croteau said:

They did that so the cops don't hassle him just walking down the street.
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Brian St. Onge said:

We'll see him in the headlines again when he has a "stressful day".
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Robert Rivett said:

Condition of parole: He can't live within 300 feet of a Victoria's Secret store.
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Kary Estabrook said:

That was a good one RobertWell he should be watched on the street Kevin...everyone wears clothes so anyone could be his next target.
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Priscilla Giguere said:

He did his full sentence and didn't complete sex-offender treatment. Do this mean he won't have to register as a sex-offender at whatever class level? I do not envy the citizens of whatever area he finally takes up residence in. We haven't heard the last of this guy that's for certain. Quite a "legacy" you're leaving for your child, Mr. Gelinas, isn't it? Just think; he'll be able to learn all about you simply by "Googling" your name on the internet. I wonder how your wife must have felt when she learned that you-the man she shared her bed with-was such a "twisted" individual? I hope she's now your EX-wife and she and the child are far away from here and that you never get to see either of them ever again.
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Kary Estabrook said:

Priscilla..Where did you get the info that his has a wife and kids? Did I miss something?
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Priscilla Giguere said:

@ Kary Estabrook: Within this article. Specifically it read: "Kurz said Gelinas was married and had a child when arrested in August 2004." (Paragraph 14. Or the 4th paragraph up from the bottom)
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Kary Estabrook said:

Priscilla....Thanks I don't know how I missed that.
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Bob Hebert said:

Perhaps if one of these women took whatever cutting device and snipped him this would be a non issue by now.
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Sue Grant said:

Its nice to see the types of inmates that this parole board seem interested in rehabilitating! A guy who commits "attempted burglary"....who was suspected of several burglaries....cutting womens' nighties WHILE THEY WERE SLEEPING.... omgosh! The UL calls him the "suspect" even though he admitted his guilt! You see, if you're perverted there is all the help in the world for you! If your a drug addict....committing thefts to support your drug habit...your on your own! No treatment while in NHSP...they'll hold back your parole & make you max out....they're not worried about adjusting you back into the community! I mean, the prison is full of felons related to drug addiction & this system has NO help for them! Maybe you should just do something perverted before getting put in prison & then they'll provide help to rehabilitate you. Can you imagine that they specifically say he can't live in Strafford or Rockingham counties? That, in my opinion....should be none of their business. If they feel he is good to be released into A COMMUNITY....why does it matter which one? I wonder how often these parole officers are looked into ... reviewed! Is this a life-long appointment? Beause if these people keep heading down this path, we'll have a prison full of people w/drug addiction & all of the child molesters & perverts will be running around....peeping in our windows...stealing our little girls' underwear....driving our school buses....teaching....being around our kids in area's that we should never expect them to be in! I guess as long as they're not in their communities.. just throw them back out for us to deal with! This prison system is so backwards! Its obvious that they are not trying to help people w/drug addiction! And its obvious they they want perverted child molesters wandering out amongst the population of innocent, law abiding citizens! Good job there.....NHSP parole board!!! I'm sure in your eyes there is no help for someone w/drug addiction.... I mean, we only pay ???? how many MILLIONS of $$$ dollars to the war on drugs???? Every time there is a drug bust & the property is taken .... becomes owned by the state .... and sold at auction .... and the $$$$$ goes into the pool of $$$$$ to fight the war on drugs .... there's just no way that we could implement effective drug counseling as part of treatment for drug related crimes, huh! And go ahead, say that there is.... that is a LIE!!There is such limited space that there are hundreds of inmates who are not allowed to enter treatment! You people just don't want to help people w/addiction......PERIOD! Keep sending these loud & clear messages, Mr & Mrs NHSP Parole Dept ... people are really getting sick of this!
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roy lain said:

Before he's released from prison they should castrate him like a dog to stop him from wondering around the neighborhood looking for love in all the wrong places.
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David Pittelli said:

Sue, he didn't admit his guilt to the multiple nightie snippings. He admitted guilt for "trying to break into an apartment." So he is only a "suspect" in the snippings. That said, they pretty much know he did it, and I'd be willing to bet that his failure to "complete sex-offender treatment" was about his refusal to own up to the snippings. (As he wasn't convicted of a sex crime, I'm not sure how the judge came to the conclusion that he needed sex-offender treatment, but I have no complaint with that decision either.)
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Paul Lundwall said:

So tell me how does anyone sneak into a girls apartment bedroom at night, cutoff her nighty and get away with it? I couldn�t even do that to my wife in the same bed without wakening her up. It does sound very farfetched.
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Paul Lundwall said:

So tell me how does anyone sneak into a girls bedroom at night, cutoff her nighty and get away with it? I couldn�t even do that to my wife in the same bed without wakening her up. It does sound very farfetched.
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Donald Duston said:

What girls leave their apartment doors unlocked?
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Joseph Weber said:

The early release was because of Lynch signing the Democrats bill SB500 into law two years ago. Now when it comes to crime, Lynch and his left-wing sycophants would rather restrict the 2nd amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while at the same time releasing sex offenders and violent criminals on to the streets via early parole. Typical moonbat Democrats � never vote for them.
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Sue Grant said:

@Donald Duston: Maybe a girl whose roommate isn't in yet? I don't know....maybe a girl who had company leave & forgot to lock the door??? Does it really matter? An unlocked door is NOT an invitation to come in & perform some perverted act on her!!! I havent forgetten how forgetful I was @ 18...19...20!!!@DaveP: Yes, I read that. Thats our criminal system making a plea deal w/this guy. Obviously they had information linking him to all of the prior burglaries....he was their #1 suspect! I mean, to pick this guy out of ... how ever many thousands of men in NH .... or even MA, they obviously had information that lead them to him! They let him plead guilty to ONE charge, knowing that he committed all of them.If you ever get the opportunity to go & sit in on a criminal trial, I suggest that you go! You'll be disgusted at how this system is being run. They make agreements here...there.....throw this in....take that out....they avoid having a jury trial, acting like people like you & I aren't intelligent enough to make decisions based on evidence presented to us. The lawyers show up...some not even prepared to represent their clients.... half so overwhelmed w/their workload that they actually misrepresent their clients.... its shameful! Our criminal system has become a system of shame!! Ole lady justice is not being allowed to hear evidence anymore....the attorneys are too busy trying to play super hero & play roles they shouldn't be playing!
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Ted Lebowitz said:

hold onto your undies. maybe we could start a used underwear donation. If we just mail anything we intend to throw away he could get his thrill will no victim.
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‘Jack the Snipper’ suspect gets OK from board to be paroled

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