Haverhill man pleads not guilty to charges of supplying drugs in fatal overdose

NORTH HAVERHILL — A Haverhill man who faces charges in connection with the fatal overdose of a 31-year-old woman in 2019 was released on personal recognizance following his arraignment in court on Monday morning.

Judge Jonathan Frizzell entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Albert Boutin III, the defendant, after Boutin, appeared at his arraignment hearing at Grafton County Superior Court without an attorney present.

Boutin, 45, was indicted in February for allegedly supplying drugs that resulted in the death of Sammantha Cruger in 2019. If convicted, Boutin could face lifetime imprisonment under the state’s “death resulting” statute.

Under terms of his release, Boutin is forbidden to have contact with or to be within 300 feet of members of Cruger’s family, and is prohibited from consuming alcohol and possessing a gun, in addition to other standard conditions.

Boutin, who has a history of felony convictions, was charged following a five-year investigation by Haverhill police.

Boutin is next scheduled to appear in court for a dispositional conference on May 6.