LACONIA — A Belmont man accused of being drunk behind the wheel resulting in a fatal car crash in Gilford last summer intends to plead guilty, according to court documents.
Richard J. Conrod, 47, was indicted by a Belknap grand jury in December on felony charges of negligent homicide, aggravated DWI, and two counts of second-degree assault.
Just 11 days after being formally charged, Conrod, his defense attorney Ryan Russman and Assistant Belknap County Attorney Keith Cormier, who is prosecuting the case, negotiated a proposed plea agreement. A plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13 at 9 a.m.
Gilford police charge that Conrod, who then worked as a grade school teacher at a private Catholic school, was driving a green 2002 Toyota Tundra pickup westbound on Lakeshore Road, when he crossed the solid double yellow line and struck an eastbound silver 2004 Nissan Murano carrying five people nearly head-on. Tiana Lozzi, 20, of Lynn, Mass., a front-seat passenger in the SUV was killed in the crash. The driver, John Bonilla, 20, also of Lynn, sustained serious injuries including fractures to his femur, knee and ankle.
A 47-year-old back-seat passenger, believed to be Bonilla’s mother, suffered multiple lacerations on her head and face, according to indictments. Two toddlers in the back seat, ages 1 and 3, were in car seats and suffered seatbelt abrasions. Conrod, who was alone in his truck, suffered minor injuries.
Lozzi’s family was following in a second car and witnessed the Aug. 28 crash that occurred about 4 p.m., near Lakeshore Park. Police were already looking for Conrod’s truck at the time of the accident in response to a report that a pickup with the vanity plate “8SPOKES” was having lane control issues and crossing the center line of the highway.
According to a police affidavit filed in support of an arrest warrant, Conrod was slurring his words at the scene of the crash and smelled of alcohol. Police said he admitted to having two alcoholic drinks about two hours prior, and agreed to take a field sobriety test.
When tested, Conrod displayed six out of six possible clues indicating he was impaired, prompting his initial arrest for DWI, according to an affidavit signed by Gilford Police Officer Lance Rouse, says.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement that could still be rejected by a judge, Conrod would be sentenced to serve 6 to 12 years in prison, on the negligent homicide charge, with two years of the minimum suspended for completing recommended programming while incarcerated.
On the two second-degree assault charges, he would receive concurrent 3½- to 7-year prison sentences that would remain suspended on the condition of good behavior for seven years.
By law, the court can also order the indefinite revocation of Conrod’s driver’s license. He would be required to wait at least seven years to petition for reinstatement, and would be mandated to install and maintain an alcohol ignition interlock on his vehicle for five years.
The case had been scheduled to go to trial in June. Conrod has remained free on $25,000 personal recognizance bail since his arrest.
