By James A. Kimble
BRENTWOOD — A contrite drug dealer, who was the victim of a road rage incident, was sentenced to one and a half to three years in state prison Monday, thanks to a plea deal with prosecutors.
Lewis Conner, 46, of Londonderry is fighting to keep one of his legs, which was damaged when he was struck by an angry driver on Feb. 4, 2008. Prosecutors said Conner's medical condition weighed in the plea deal.
Conner was well-known as a Londonderry youth football coach. He was involved in a road rage incident with Miguel Vazquez, 23, of Manchester at the intersection of Route 28 and Rockingham Road.
During the confrontation, Conner got out of his car and Vazquez allegedly backed into him, crushing his left leg.
Derry police seized Conner's car and, in the course of their investigation, discovered thousands of illegal prescription pills, cocaine and marijuana in his trunk.
Yesterday, Conner — dressed in a black suit and standing with the help of a cane — apologized after pleading guilty to five drug charges, including possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell.
"I would just like to apologize to the state and family for my actions and my decisions," he said to Judge John Lewis. "That's it."
Conner will spend one and a half to three years in state prison as part of the plea deal he struck with prosecutors. He could have faced between 10 and 20 years in state prison had he been convicted at trial.
Assistant County Attorney Scott Jordan said Conner's medical condition and lack of a criminal record played a significant role in what prosecutors recommended for a sentence.
Conner's lawyer, P. Scott Bratton, asked the judge to stay his client's sentence for roughly a month.
Bratton said he plans to petition the prison warden to let Conner serve his sentence in the medical unit of the prison, where he can continue to be treated.
"He's had 11 leg surgeries since the time of the incident," Bratton said. "He has had a skin graft performed on his leg and there's still a possibility he might lose the leg."
Lewis said Conner can remain free on bail until July 27, to give his lawyer time to prepare.
"You are to report there at 9 o'clock," Lewis said. "That does not mean 9:01. You can get yourself into trouble if you do that."
Conner also received two suspended sentences of three and a half to seven years, which prosecutors could seek to impose over the next 10 years if Conner runs afoul of the law. His sentence will require him to pay a $5,000 fine and enter drug and alcohol counseling while he is behind bars.
Vazquez is awaiting trial on first-degree assault and other charges from the road rage incident.
