http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/l...034012814.html
High school wrestling star faces auto theft charges
By Jim Patten
jpatten@eagletribune.com
SALEM N.H. — As a high school wrestler, Miguel Guzman went 44-0 his senior year, pinning his opponents more often than beating them by decision.
He was a New England wrestling champion and set the record at Greater Lawrence Technical School for the most wins, 174, against just 10 losses during his four-year career. He never lost a match in the regular season.
But now, the gifted grappler, 20, is the one being pinned — by the law.
Wanted by Salem, N.H., police on auto theft charges, Guzman, of 383 Chestnut St., Lawrence, was arrested at home on Friday afternoon as a fugitive from justice in New Hampshire.
He agreed during a hearing Monday in Lawrence District Court to waive extradition and go to New Hampshire to face charges of being an accomplice to theft, theft by unauthorized taking and criminal mischief.
He was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail Monday night by a Rockingham County bail commissioner, but that bail was reduced dramatically during his video-conference arraignment before Judge John Korbey in Salem District Court yesterday morning.
Korbey told Guzman, who was in custody at the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood, that not-guilty pleas would be entered for him, and listened as Salem police prosecutor Jason Grosky asked the court to set $1,500 cash bail and impose strict conditions on Guzman's release.
The court set $5,000 cash bail and adopted Grosky's other recommendations, ordering Guzman to live with an uncle at 14 Pleasant Terrace in Lawrence. Guzman must check in with the Salem District Court probation department every Tuesday, remain alcohol free, and submit to any recommended treatment or drug and alcohol screens. He was ordered to have no contact with two co-defendants in the case, Juan De La Cruz, 19, 10 Haverhill St., and Eduardo "Eddie" Joaquin, 19, of 18 Cedar St., both in Lawrence.
He was also ordered to call the Salem police prosecutor's line from his uncle's telephone each day at 9 p.m. until his trial.
Grosky asked that if Guzman failed to meet any of those conditions that the $25,000 cash bail be reimposed.
The charges stem from a string of car thefts in Salem for which two Lawrence men were arrested and implicated Guzman as a participant.
Guzman was further identified as a participant when his wallet was found in one of the cars stolen in Salem.
Outside the courtroom, Guzman's stepfather, Hector Hernandez, said Guzman has been studying to take his SATs in order to apply for college.
"He has a letter from the University of Maine inviting him to go and visit the campus," Hernandez said.
He said his stepson fell in with the wrong crowd after his 2009 graduation from the plumbing-HVAC program at Greater Lawrence Tech in Andover.
Guzman was ordered to return to court Feb. 10. Guzman is the cousin of Jeremy Guzman, 20, 66 Broadway, Methuen, who was found shot to death in his apartment in Lawrence yesterday morning. Jeremy Guzman was also a former member of the technical school's wrestling team.
