Harrison Thorp
Friday, December 20, 2013 5:39 am

DOVER, N.H. - The man who beat and left a man blind in one eye in a brutal assault inside a Residence Inn room on Valentine’s Day was sentenced to five-to-10 years in prison after pleading guilty in the attack on earlier this week.

Clifford Gagnon, 25, of 159 Milton Road in East Rochester, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault on Tuesday.

The Feb. 14 attack, which left the victim blind in one eye, occurred during a theft.

In May, Gagnon was indicted on felony robbery and first-degree assault.

Prosecutors agreed to nol prosse the robbery charge as part of a plea agreement reached with Gagnon.

As part of the plea deal, Gagnon must pay 81,264 in restitution, including $78,453 to Maine Medical Center, $2,381 to Frisbie Memorial Hospital, and $429 to the victim.

The victim, who was living at the Residence Inn at the time and has ties to Milton, must be paid first.