A former New Hampshire state representative accused of trying to solicit sex from a teenager and of having a stash of drugs at his home is facing two new felony charges.
A grand jury indicted Kyle Tasker, 31, of Nottingham on charges of felonious use of a firearm and conspiracy to sell or distribute a controlled drug.
Tasker now faces a total of 13 felony charges in Rockingham County Superior Court. He was first indicted in July on 11 charges, including drug possession and certain uses of computer services prohibited.
Tasker is accused of using a Facebook account to lure a 14-year-old girl into a sexual encounter in Northwood. One of the new indictments accuses him of exchanging messages with the same girl online about coming to his home to smoke marijuana.
Police executed a search warrant of Tasker’s home in March and said they uncovered “vast amounts” of controlled drugs, including marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, ecstasy, hash oil and a narcotic called Buprenorphine.
Prosecutors also accuse Tasker of having several firearms, including a rifle, a .357 Magnum and a Glock 42-380.
Nottingham police began investigating Tasker in mid-January, when the girl’s mother accused the legislator of sexually harassing her daughter online.
The girl told investigators Tasker had asked her how old she was, and that, when she told him, he replied, “This is how guys my age get into trouble.” She also alleged Tasker offered to supply her and her friends with drugs and alcohol.
As part of the investigation, a detective took control of the 14-year-old’s online account and posed as her in messages with Tasker, police said.
On Feb. 29, Tasker suggested meeting up with the girl the next day at a secluded beach area near Lucas Pond, according to an affidavit. When he arrived, officers from Nottingham, Northwood and the state Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force swarmed in. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was retrieved from inside of his car, as well as marijuana, a glass smoking pipe and a bottle of alcohol, the affidavit says.
Tasker has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains free on bail.
Tasker previously served on the Children and Family Law Committee and before that was a member of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.)