UNH prof’s exposure case moved on appeal

Thursday, November 5, 2009

MILFORD – The case of a University of New Hampshire professor charged with exposing himself in the Market Basket parking lot in July is being forwarded to Superior Court, where he could face a jury trial.

Edward Larkin, 60, of Durham, was charged with indecent exposure, a Class A misdemeanor, after a mother and teen daughter reported to police on July 19 that he exposed himself to them and other people in the supermarket parking lot and then rode away in his motorcycle.

Larkin’s trial was scheduled for Nov. 4, but the day before, through his attorney, Jane Holly Weintraub, he waived his right to a trial on the district court level. In court terminology, his case was “2.14ing,” meaning that under Rule 2.14 of New Hampshire’s district court rules, the court can allow a defendant to plead not guilty and appeal to Superior Court.

According to police, the mother and daughter described the suspect as an older white male, wearing a yellow jacket with black on it and a black motorcycle helmet and sunglasses and riding a luxury model motorcycle.

Amherst police a short time later stopped Larkin on Route 101 riding eastbound on a black BMW cycle and wearing a yellow jacket with black stripes.

The former chairman of the university’s department of languages, literature and culture is reportedly on administrative leave and banned from the campus.

According to the school’s Web site, Larkin taught several levels of courses in German langauge, as well as classes on German culture. He has a number of degrees including bachelors from St. Peter’s College, master’s degrees from St. John’s University and the University of Houston and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, according to the site.