1 week Ago
LACONIA -- A Gilford man, who authorities allege was intoxicated when he shot and killed a person at his parents’ home where he was living on Sept. 6, was denied release on Monday. Charged with manslaughter and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, Horvath, 45, appeared in Laconia district court where a judge found that he was a danger to himself and others and that he should remain at the Belknap County jail pending a Sept.
18 probable-cause hearing. According to Gilford Police, the department responded to 28 Timber Lane around 9:46 p.m.
Friday to a 911 call reporting that someone had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Upon arrival, police officers found a deceased male, who they have not yet identified. Although the arrest affidavit for Horvath is sealed and the complaints against him were not immediately available Monday afternoon, public defender Justin Littlefield, who represents Horvath, indirectly told the Court that that the victim may have been Horvath's brother.
Littlefield said Horvath’s parents, Dave and Marcia, were present for their son’s hearing Monday, and that “they lost one son” already and now feared losing a second to prison. Through its prosecutor, Gilford Police said Horvath had criminal records in both Florida and New Hampshire. In Florida, Horvath had arrests for domestic battery, while in New Hampshire he had been arrested for DWI and having an open container of alcohol in 2023.
Horvath showed “obvious signs” of intoxication, the prosecutor said, and admitted that “he did shoot the gun,” before becoming “deceitful” and “back-tracking” on his confession. Littlefield asked that Horvath be granted personal recognizance bail on the condition he be prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition and from consuming alcohol. Horvath, Littlefield continued, would continue to reside at 28 Timber Lane, with his parents.
Littlefield pointed out that under state law a charge of manslaughter does not automatically carry a no-bail provision. What Horvath did in Florida happened nearly a decade ago, said Littlefield, and there were no allegations that he used a weapon during the commission of those crimes. Littlefield called what happened at the Horvath home, where Brian Horvath lived in the basement, “sad.
” At the time of the incident, Littlefield said Horvath was working at a boat-detailing business in Gilford and was working more than 40 hours a week and earning good money. Littlefield unsuccessfully sought Horvath’s release on a combination of personal recognizance and cash bail. He noted that there was “no evidence” to show that Horvath was in violation of bail conditions from his prior arrests.
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