ROCHESTER, NH : Ex-state rep. from pot probe now charged in 3-car DWI crash on Tuesday, 1st November 2016
A former Nottingham state representative, whose activities sparked an investigation into marijuana smoking and sales at the New Hampshire Statehouse, was charged in Rochester Tuesday evening with driving while under the influence in connection with a three-car crash.
Kyle Tasker, 31, faces one count of driving under the influence, a Class B misdemeanor, according to a press release issued Wednesday morning by Rochester police.
Rochester Police received a report at about 5:39 p.m. Tuesday of a red Nissan "operating erratically and swerving all over the road" on Gonic Road (Route 125 south), according to police. As an officer was being dispatched to check for that vehicle, another officer came upon a three-vehicle collision further southbound on Gonic Road, which involved a red Nissan.
As a result of the accident Rochester Fire and Frisbie EMS were dispatched for leaking fluids and at least one injury.
The on-scene accident investigation revealed a 2012 Ford focus operated by John Clark, 53, of Nottingham, and a 1989 Dodge Dynasty operated by Glen Billings, 54, of Gonic, were both stopped at the traffic signal at the intersection of Gonic Road and Chesley Hill Road facing southbound on Gonic Road. The third vehicle, a red 2009 Nissan Murano operated by Tasker, was traveling southbound on Gonic Road and failed to stop, police said.
Tasker's vehicle struck the rear of the Dodge Dynasty, which pushed it into the rear of the Ford Focus. Both the Nissan and Dodge sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene, the Ford was able to be driven from the scene.
All involved parties refused medical treatment at the scene, according to police.
After Tasker's arrest, he was released on $1,000 cash bail and is scheduled for arraignment at Rochester District Court on Monday, Nov. 14, at 8 a.m., police said.
Tasker already faces several other criminal charges not connected to Tuesday's accident. He was indicted on on charge alleging felonious use of a firearm. That indictment alleges that on March 1, Tasker possessed at least five weapons while also in possession of illegal drugs. The weapons cited in the indictment are a Stag rifle, a .357 Magnum, a Glock 42-380, a Sig P227 and a Magnum revolver. The indictment alleges Tasker's possession of those weapons was illegal because he was also in possession of the drugs MDMA, psilocin, hash oil and buprenorphine.
If convicted of that charge, Tasker faces 3.5 to 7 years in prison and a $4,000 fine, according to the indictment.
Tasker was also indicted for a "special felony" of drug distribution alleging he texted a 14-year-old about "coming to his home to smoke marijuana, along with other activities." The indictment states that felony is punishable by 1.5 to three years in state prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Tasker resigned from his post in March.
An indictment means the grand jury found enough evidence to take the case to trial and is not a finding of guilt.
In addition, the New Hampshire Attorney General released a report in September saying that Tasker smoked marijuana in the Statehouse and sold the drug to several legislators, but there was not enough evidence to charge any of the legislators with drug crimes.
The attorney general said three state representatives bought marijuana from Tasker and a fourth smoked it with him. All told investigators they believed Tasker was trying to help people who needed the drug for medicinal purposes.
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Ex-state rep. from pot probe now charged in 3-car DWI crash