{ Gary Dodds } Candidate Guilty of Faking Disappearance

AP via SFGate ^ | 2/20/8 | HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

Dover, N.H. (AP) -- A businessman was convicted Wednesday of faking his disappearance after a car crash two years ago to draw attention to his long-shot congressional campaign.

A jury convicted Gary Dodds of falsifying evidence, causing a false public alarm and leaving the scene of the April 2006 crash. He showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned on the first day of deliberations after a 15-day trial.

Dodds, 43, claims he injured his head in a crash on the Spaulding Turnpike and nearly drowned in a river before being rescued 27 hours later from the snowy woods. Prosecutors say he spent part of that time soaking his feet in cold water to make it appear he spent the night outdoors, all to boost his faltering campaign.

"He had a story that he was going to stick to," County Attorney Thomas Velardi said during closing arguments Friday. "It would've been a heroic story. It would've been a great story — all the people who hadn't heard of him before ... really would've known who he was."

Except for his shoes and socks, Dodds' clothing was dry when he was rescued. His feet were purple and wrinkled, but the rest of his skin was pink and dry. An expert in cold weather injuries testified that must have resulted from Dodds soaking his feet in cold water.

Prosecutors allege that Dodds was desperate for money after spending nearly double the amount his wife had agreed to and taking out two mortgages on their home to finance his campaign. But defense lawyers said that bank records show the mortgages were used to pay for property renovations and that there was no reason for Dodds to stage the crash.

[SmithL]

Go ahead and guess the party -

[SmithL]

... or scroll down to the very last paragraph:

Dodds continued campaigning for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District after the crash but came in third in the four-way primary.

[dangus]

Insert your own Fred Thompson joke here.

[wilco200]

I remember this story when it first broke.

In the past this guy has been linked to a local tranny. Sounded like he was trying to coverup for some funny business...guess he did, except for the conviction of course.

[OCCASparky]

And instead we ended up stuck with Carol Che-Porter, moonbat from hell.

I can't wait until November so I can vote that hag out.

[AmericaUnited]

Plus this guy was having an affair with one of his campaign staffers. Probably shacked up with the mistress and need an excuse to be “out” for a days.