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Gonic man weighing options after plea deal falls through

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Stephen Clough (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER, N.H. - A Gonic man arrested in a hit and run accident involving a bicyclist in January had a plea and sentencing hearing continued after he failed to come to terms with a plea agreement offered by the state.

Stephen Clough, of 15 Stillwater Circle, had originally been charged with conduct after an accident, carrying a loaded handgun without a license and being a felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, but prosecutors later learned that Clough's felony sentence from Florida had allowed that to be dismissed after Clough completed a Florida program similar to diversionary programs New Hampshire prosecutors often use.

That means he's left with two charges, the Class B felony of conduct after an accident and a Class A misdemeanor for allegedly carrying a loaded handgun, Assistant County Attorney Meghan C. Hagaman said today.

The conduct charge could land Clough in state prison for up to seven years while the misdemeanor gun charge carries a maximum 12-month county jail sentence.

The incident back on Jan. 6 began a little before 5 p.m. when Rochester Police, Rochester Fire and Frisbie EMS responded to the area of Rochester Neck Road and Gonic Road for the report of a hit and run motor vehicle accident involving a bicyclist.

After a brief investigation it was determined that a 2004 Chrysler Sebring driven by Clough was coming off of Rochester Neck Road and taking a right onto Gonic Road to head north when it struck the bicyclist.

A witness reportedly saw the accident, watched as Clough left the scene without stopping and followed the vehicle notifying Rochester Police of the incident and where the vehicle was located. The Sebring had sustained minor damage to the front bumper and hood area.

The bicyclist, Matthew Granger, of 31 Nutter St., Rochester, received a minor leg injury.

Another dispositional conference in the case will be scheduled in about 30 days, Hagaman said, adding that if no plea agreement is forthcoming then, the next step would be a jury trial.

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