DOVER — Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave, after receiving an ultimatum from county commissioners, announced Monday night he will go on paid administrative leave while facing eight felony charges.

"I have made the difficult decision to take administrative leave while the investigation, due diligence and the legal process continues," Brave wrote in a prepared statement. "While I maintain that I am innocent, and none of my spending of out of state line items was ... to deceive the county or the people of Strafford County, I do want to make sure that the wonderful team at (the Strafford County sheriff's office) is able to function without added stressors to their already difficult positions. I do not want to add any distractions to their lines of duties. This is a personal fight, that should not impact the office."

Strafford County commissioners had voted unanimously Monday to give Brave until noon Tuesday to accept their third offer to go on paid administrative leave amid in investigation that began in June. He is facing charges of theft, falsification of evidence and perjury. The commissioners said if Brave declined to take leave they would send a petition for Brave's removal from office to the county's delegation of state representatives, which would have to vote on it, in accordance with state law.

Strafford County Commissioners, from left, Deanna Rollo, George Maglaras and Robert Watson are seen during a meeting on the status of Sheriff Mark Brave, who is facing eight felony charges. The meeting was held Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 at county headquarters in Dover.

The commissioners on Monday gave a brief outline in the public meeting of the theft, falsifying evidence and perjury charges Brave is facing. Most are charges related to his alleged misuse of two county credit cards for alleged personal reasons that included trips, airfare, restaurants and hotels, involving extramarital affairs.

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More: Investigation details Sheriff Mark Brave's alleged lies about affairs, hotels and trips

"We made him this offer for paid administrative leave in June, when this started," said George Maglaras, chairman of the county commissioners. "We made it last Thursday when he was arrested, and we are making it today. We are doing this because he is an elected official. If he was a regular employee, he would already be on leave. It is standard procedure while there is an investigation. We have done it twice in his own department just this year. We are asking him to do the right thing and step down."

Chief Deputy Joseph McGiven will lead the department in Brave's absence, according to Maglaras, because he is the next in command.

Because Brave's bail conditions include no-contact orders with many of his own staff as well as other county employees, Maglaras said, commissioners feel he cannot effectively manage his department. He said they also have concerns for the employment of some of Brave's staff, and for the potential for retaliation and witness tampering.

Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave arrives at New Hampshire State Police Troop A in Epping Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, saying he was turning himself in as he anticipates charges from the state attorney general.

Brave turned himself in last Thursday to New Hampshire State Police. He was charged with theft by deception for using about $19,000 in county funds by seeking reimbursement for personal expenses with false justifications, two counts of falsifying physical evidence and five counts of perjury for lying to a Stafford County grand jury, according to Attorney General John Formella. Brave is facing up to 31½ to 64 years in prison and fines of up to $32,000 if convicted on all counts, according to Formella.

On Monday night, Brave acknowledged the investigation is taking a toll on him.

"While this was a difficult decision to make, it is the right one," Brave wrote, in a statement addressing county residents. "My physical and mental health has taken a major turn and I need to start thinking about taking care myself and my daughter. Again I thank you for your support through all of this, and look forward to moving on from this."

Brave, now 38, was elected in 2020 as New Hampshire's first Black sheriff and reelected in 2022. He is a Democrat, as are all three county commissioners.

Commissioners say more of Brave's expenditures are being investigated

Maglaras said during Monday's meeting commissioners are looking now into another expense Brave charged to the county, at a nightclub in Lawrence, Massachusetts. County Administrator Ray Bower said it was for about $200 to the Attika Restaurant and Club and Brave "is refusing to provide receipts."

Maglaras said commissioners are also looking into a bounced $600 check Brave wrote to the Strafford County's Riverside Rest Home's annual Make-a-Wish benefit. There is no allegation of taking county funds in that incident.

"The $600 was a personal check written by him," Bower said. "Still, it's a rubber check for one of our charities."

Strafford County Administrator Ray Bower answers a question from the public during a Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, meeting on the status of Sheriff Mark Brave.

Maglaras has recused himself from some of the proceedings involving Brave because he is a potential witness to a county investigation in which Brave allegedly lied when asked about certain expenses, and about the DWI arrest of his wife. Because of that investigation, the commissioners have asked for Brave to be placed on the state's exculpatory evidence schedule, which is a list of law enforcement officers with credibility issues, formerly known as the Laurie List.

"We didn't know what the extent, or the charges would be with the attorney general investigation,"Maglaras said. "We learned last week, the same time as the public did."

Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi listens during a Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 public meeting of the county commissioners relating to Sheriff Mark Brave.

Bower told people gathered for the public meeting Monday that he is the person who first found discrepancies in Brave's receipts, and he informed County Attorney Tom Velardi. This prompted county leaders to speak with the state attorney general's public integrity unit, kicking off its investigation.

"Then I went to the commission to tell them what we were doing," Bower said.

Questions from the public

Maglaras said there is a presumption of innocence for all people arrested. He said Brave taking leave will allow him time to get his defense ready.

"If innocent until proven guilty, what message does it send to remove a person from office based on an allegation?" asked Crystal Paradis, a resident of Somersworth, where she formerly served as a city councilor. "If he is removed and found innocent, is there a process to reinstate. him?

"Absolutely," Maglaras said. "As long as it is within this term. There is an election next year, and these things can drag on."

In response to a question about the credit cards Brave allegedly used, Bower said that until the charges came down, the county had no reason to cancel the cards even though they had concerns. He said the cards have since been canceled.

When people in the meeting began questioning Brave's credentials to be sheriff, Maglaras shut it down.

"We are not here to vilify him," he said.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Sheriff Mark Brave accepts paid leave after county leaders' ultimatum