Police: Man posed as nurse at camp Suspect jailed on theft charge

PORTLAND – A New Hampshire man who is in jail on a theft charge posed as a nurse at a children’s summer camp earlier this summer, according to police.

Mark Hamel, 36, of Laconia was charged over the weekend with theft by deception for allegedly preparing to skip out on a $2,000 motel bill at the Sebago Lodge in Standish.

During the investigation, police found that Hamel was in Maine in violation of his probation in New Hampshire on a previous conviction for theft of services.

Police also determined that Hamel had posed as a nurse at Camp Sebago, a Salvation Army camp, from May 27 to July 14, said Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion.

When he worked at the camp, Hamel attended to children and administered medication even though he didn’t have a nursing license, but there is no indication he harmed any children, Dion said.

Salvation Army spokesman Craig Evans said concerns about Hamel’s qualifications led to an internal investigation at the camp, and that he was fired when he couldn’t supply the appropriate credentials.

“Because of our commitment to the safety and welfare of young people, we take such matters very seriously,” Evans said. “It is important to note that the individual employed as the assistant nurse was supervised by a fully licensed nurse and had very limited duties as part of the infirmary staff.”

The Attorney General’s Office, as well as federal authorities from the Department of Health and Human Services, will review the case, police said.

Dion said records indicate that Hamel administered prescription drugs, adding that he intends to submit additional charges to prosecutors, including acquiring drugs by deception, aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs, endangering the welfare of a child and practicing nursing without a license.

The Salvation Army operates Camp Sebago on Sebago Lake in Standish, which serves as many as 200 economically disadvantaged children from Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.