Ex-candidate gets 20 days in jail in NH

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - A former congressional candidate was sentenced Monday to 20 days in jail and a year of home confinement for concocting what the judge called a "fairy tale" to explain his disappearance after a car crash.

Gary Dodds could have received seven years in prison. The sentence was six days longer than the prosecutors sought.

Judge Peter Fauver also scolded Dodds for trying to win over jurors by essentially calling the state's law enforcement community a bunch of liars.

"You expected 12 members of the community, 12 of your peers, to believe that fairy tale ... you made a mockery of members of law enforcement who risked their lives and used their time — volunteer efforts, many of them — to come and try to find you," the judge said.

Dodds, 43, claimed he hit his head in the crash in April 2006 and nearly drowned in a river before being found 27 hours later. But authorities were suspicious from the start; his feet were purple and wet, while the rest of him was dry.

Prosecutors said he spent at least part of that time inside, soaking his feet in cold water to make it appear as if he had been outdoors.

He was convicted in February of falsifying evidence, causing a false public alarm and leaving the scene of the crash.

On Monday, Dodds was also ordered to repay the $20,500 the state spent looking for him and to perform 200 hours of community service. He will remain free while he appeals.

Dodds, who claims authorities charged him to cover up their bungled search and rescue efforts, spoke only briefly at the sentencing hearing. He asked the judge for leniency, citing his years of public service.

"I have spent an enormous amount of time in my adult life doing the people's business, helping people in need, and when I was young, I needed that help," he said. "That's why I do it. Because I care."

County Attorney Thomas Velardi, who has suggested Dodds faked his disappearance to attract attention to his campaign, said a short jail term was appropriate, given the cost of incarceration.

"Quite frankly, the New Hampshire taxpayers have spent enough at the hands of Gary Dodds," he said.

Dodds was running for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. Never considered a contender, he finished third in the four-way race. Winner Carol Shea-Porter went on to defeat Republican incumbent Jeb Bradley.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080401/ap_on_re_us/missing_candidate [link]