PORTSMOUTH — A lobsterman charged with one felony, two misdemeanors and more than 130 violations — including allegations that he stole a deceased lobsterman's traps — has hired the law firm of Shaheen and Gordon to defend against what is likely a record number of citations filed against any one person in the history of the Portsmouth court.

Kyle Basoukas, 21, of 48 Old Sawmill Road, Bedford, was scheduled to appear in the local court Monday for arraignment on the dozens of charges. But through attorney James Rosenberg, he petitioned the court to have the arraignment continued.

The story of how he was caught fishing off the coast of Rye using traps allegedly stolen from the late Tony Rahn and nine other local lobstermen is told in an affidavit by state Fish and Game officer James Benvenuti. The account begins Aug. 17, when two Fish and Game officers patrolling local waters saw Basoukas hauling traps onto his boat and he agreed to an inspection, court records state. The officers observed the traps were tagged, but didn't record the numbers on the tags and gave Basoukas a verbal warning for a "few" observed violations, according to Benvenuti's report.

Read the full story at Seacoast Online>>