Lakes Region Developer Indicted on Asbestos-Related Felony Charges

October 1, 2025

By: Scanner Alerts Media Group

The New Hampshire Attorney General and Department of Environmental Services announced that Bradley Leighton has been indicted on five class B felony offenses for alleged violations of the state’s Asbestos Management and Control Act.

According to the release, Leighton allegedly began demolishing a home in Meredith without providing required notice to the town or state. The home allegedly contained asbestos, and Leighton is accused of failing to follow regulations requiring inspection, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials before demolition.

The indictment further alleges Leighton—who buys and redevelops property in the Lakes Region but was not a licensed asbestos removal contractor—failed to properly remove the asbestos material at the Meredith home, to wet and seal asbestos-containing material after removal, and to properly clean the work site. It also alleges he owned and operated the site and had another unidentified individual working with him during the alleged work.

The release explains that asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in various building products. When disturbed, it can break into microscopic airborne fibers; inhalation has been determined to cause adverse health effects such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

Leighton is scheduled for arraignment in Belknap County Superior Court on October 8 at 8:30 a.m. The charges and allegations are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the Department of Environmental Services – Air Resources Division and the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau.

Credit: New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office