In a recent court ruling, Debra Paul, the publisher of the Londonderry Times, a weekly community newspaper in New Hampshire, has been found guilty of five misdemeanor charges for running advertisements for local races without properly labeling them as political advertising. The judge acquitted Paul of a sixth misdemeanor charge, bringing some relief to the accused publisher. However, she now faces potential penalties including up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine for each conviction. Paul's sentencing is scheduled for December 20.

The charges against Paul were brought by the New Hampshire attorney general's office, which claimed that she had failed to comply with state laws requiring advertisements to be clearly identified as such and disclosing who funded them. The office alleged that Paul had been previously warned about this issue in both 2019 and 2021. In response to an increasing number of complaints, the attorney general's office reviewed the February and March issues of the Londonderry Times last year. They discovered that two political ads leading up to a local election in March did not contain the required "paid for" language, and a third ad lacked the designation of being a "political advertisement," according to a police affidavit.

Following her arrest, Paul released a statement asserting that this case was a prime example of a small business being forced to defend itself against an overreaching government. Her lawyer, Tony Naro, argued in court that Paul had not intended to violate the law and had made efforts to abide by the attorney general's office instructions. Naro expressed disappointment with the convictions but stated that they are considering all available legal options after Paul's sentencing. He emphasized the importance of recognizing Paul as a small business owner who provides a valuable service to the community and hoped that community support for the Londonderry Times would continue amid the declining presence of independent newspapers.

In addition to her role as publisher, Paul also served as a member of the Londonderry Town Council. However, she did not seek re-election in March. When asked for comment on the recent ruling, Paul responded by providing a judge's recent order regarding a Right-to-Know lawsuit she had filed against the town. The lawsuit aimed to make a complaint filed against her by the town manager in February public. The judge ruled in Paul's favor and deemed the complaint frivolous. Paul indicated that the complaint and the lawsuit are related to the political advertising case.

As Debra Paul awaits her sentencing, the community awaits the outcome with anticipation, aware of the potential impact it may have on the future of the Londonderry Times and the broader landscape of independent newspapers.