SALEM, Mass. — A New Hampshire sportswriter arrested in July on charges of running a prostitution business out of an Andover hotel faces new charges, including intimidating a witness.
That charge was one of seven separate indictments an Essex County grand jury returned this week against Kevin Provencher, 51, a long-time veteran of the Manchester Union Leader sports staff.
In a court document filed yesterday in Salem Superior Court, assistant district attorney Melissa Woodard said Provencher "threatened to have his attorney shred the two women apart in the media if they spoke to the police."
The prosecutor was referring to two women who were allegedly working as prostitutes for Provencher at the time of his arrest.
"He meant it toward both women, but we only know of one woman who was aware of a threat," said Steve O'Connell, spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office.
If convicted of the intimidation charge, Provencher could receive a sentence of up to 10 years in state prison.
Provencher was also indicted on two counts each of deriving support from a prostitute, procuring a person to practice prostitution and soliciting for a prostitute.
He was initially arrested on two counts of deriving support from a prostitute.
Prosecutor Woodard noted in the court document that Provencher had previously posted $10,000 cash bail and was expected to be arraigned in Salem Superior Court within the next couple of weeks.
Provencher could not be reached for comment last night. He is represented by public defender Jessica Thrall.
For the last 23 years, Provencher has worked as a full-time sports reporter for the Union Leader. He is a four-time recipient of the New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
His most recent assignment was covering motor sports and the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.
But investigators said he also was moonlighting for at least a year as a pimp.
Provencher allegedly employed three to four female prostitutes, taking half their earnings and charging them for the hotel rooms he booked for them.
Investigators said that activity came to light in February when Andover police began investigating complaints from employees at SpringHill Suites about an alleged prostitution operation there.
Employees of the 550 Minuteman Road hotel told police that Provencher would reserve a room on Thursdays and Fridays and tell hotel staff that either his girlfriend or wife would be coming by to visit him or use the room while he was at work, according to a police report.
Once one or two females would occupy the room, a "steady flow" of men would follow, police said.
Andover detectives set up a sting operation at the hotel on June 11 and were able to interview several prostitutes and customers during their investigation.
Provencher allegedly used Web sites, including craigslist.org, to find both customers and the women he employed for his prostitution business.
