New Hampshire man sentenced to 10-12 years in MSP trooper stabbing

Nghia Le, 19, of Manchester, N.H., pleaded guilty, in Franklin Superior Court, today, to armed assault with intent to murder and other charges, in connection with the Oct. 19, 2018 stabbing of a Massachusetts State Police trooper.

Judge Richard Carey sentenced Le to serve 10-12 years in state prison to be followed by 5 years of probation with 340 days credit for time already served.  The Commonwealth sought a sentence of 19-23 years in state prison, while the defendant’s attorney argued for a 5-7 ½ year sentence.
 

Le was arraigned Oct. 30, 2018, in Orange District Court, on numerous charges in connection with the stabbing of Massachusetts State Police Trooper Mark Whitcomb following a high speed chase that ended in New Salem.

On Oct. 19, 2018, Le stole a car in New Hampshire, which he then drove at speeds up to 110 mph as Erving Officer James Loynd attempted to stop him on Route 2, then Le sideswiped another vehicle while continuing to flee. After being stopped by Trooper Whitcomb on Orange Road in New Salem, Le stabbed him repeatedly in the face, chest and arm and attempted to steal his cruiser, before he was finally subdued by Loynd, who shot Le several times. 

Judge Carey said of Whitcomb and Loynd that “The first person each of them thought about was the other. It was nothing short of heroic.”

Le  pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Armed assault with intent to murder, Armed assault with intent to rob, Mayhem, Aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, Assault and battery on a public employee causing serious injury, Armed carjacking, Assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and Reckless operation of a motor vehicle

“No sentence could ever repair the damage the defendant inflicted through this vicious attack,” said First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, who prosecuted the case.  “But what really shone through in this process was the strength, bravery, and resiliency of Trooper Whitcomb, Officer Loynd, and their families.  They will remain in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to recover and heal from this incident.”