Republican House Speaker Shawn Jasper tapped a representative convicted of misdemeanor simple assault to help lead the criminal justice committee.

On Tuesday, Jasper named Republican Frank Sapareto of Derry as vice-chairman of the House committee that vets changes to New Hampshire’s criminal code and penalties.

Jasper agreed to the appointment to win Sapareto’s endorsement during the competitive speaker’s race in November, he said. At the time, Jasper said he didn’t remember Sapareto had been convicted of pushing his girlfriend’s adult daughter during a 2012 incident. Sapareto, now 56, did not serve jail time.

It’s not the first time the committee’s membership has stirred controversy. Jasper removed a Republican member two years ago after learning of the representative’s 2012 felony conviction for reckless conduct with a gun.

Democrats were quick to condemn the appointment Tuesday, though Jasper said he is confident Sapareto will be “impartial.”

“He has the ability to look at what is best legislation for the state of New Hampshire,” Jasper, of Hudson, said Tuesday. “I am not concerned that Frank is going to try, in that position, to advance a personal agenda.”

Following his arrest, Sapareto tried unsuccessfully in the Legislature to reduce simple assault from a misdemeanor crime to a violation-level offense. He argued the law was too draconian and punished people for minor incidents when no harm was done. His bill faced opposition from law enforcement groups and was rejected in 2013.

Sapareto won’t file the same legislation this session, but said it’s likely other lawmakers will. On the committee, Sapareto said he will prioritize curbing the opioid crisis and cleaning up “waste” in the criminal justice system. His 2013 simple assault conviction sounds “worse than it is,” he said. “We misapply these laws,” said Sapareto, who claimed he was protecting his girlfriend at the time. “All simple assault is, is simple contact, you bump into someone.”

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley criticized the appointment.

“Appointing someone with a criminal record to chair the Criminal Justice committee would be inappropriate in any circumstances, but to do it in exchange for an endorsement is reprehensible,” he said in a statement.

Sapareto was elected to his seventh term in the House this year after losing a 2014 bid for the state senate. The Derry representative mounted a campaign for House Speaker, but earned only three votes in the Nov. 30 election before dropping out.

Jasper released a full list of leadership positions Tuesday. Longtime Republican Rep. David Welch, of Kingston, will chair the criminal justice committee.

Republican Rep. Neal Kurk of Weare will remain as head of the powerful House finance committee, which helps craft the state budget.

Republican Rep. Yvonne Dean-Bailey, who was the target of a phony press release in 2014 that erroneously claimed she dropped out of her race, will be vice-chairwoman of the election law committee.

Jasper named Epsom Rep. Carol McGuire – a Republican who challenged him for speaker – as chairwoman of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee.

(Allie Morris can reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com.)