Fugitive NH Teacher Arrested on Warrant

(Portsmouth, New Hampshire) A 51-year-old substitute teacher with the Portsmouth School Department, Judith Presarik, has been arrested on an outstanding warrant from July 2009 for allegedly violating a no-contact order.

Presarik was located Sunday after patrol officers responded to the Motel 6 where a manager said she was refusing to pay for staying there, said Dilando.

“I was staying at Motel 6 because I negotiated a reasonable rate, but customer service had gone down in the last week,” Presarik told the court. “I stayed at Cross Roads (homeless shelter), but I was told I don't fit the profile there.”

During her arraignment, Presarik said she works for the Portsmouth School Department, is a PhD candidate and also works at a Kittery, Maine, outlet store.

According to Superintendent of Schools Ed McDonough, Presarik is “signed up” to work as a substitute teacher and worked for the school department only one day this year.

Police Capt. Mike Schwartz said school employees are fingerprinted and their criminal histories are checked by the N.H. State Police. However, the criminal histories as required by state school departments show only convictions and do not include open arrest warrants, he said.

Presarik was booked into custody and released after paying bail of $2,000. A court appearance is scheduled for February 16.