Ex-prison guard considers plea deal in N.H. assault cases

CONCORD, N.H.—Prosecutors say a former prison sergeant convicted of assaulting two female inmates is considering a plea agreement to resolve the remaining charges against him.

Douglas Tower, 63, was charged in 2006 with 53 counts of rape, sexual assault and physical assault involve 13 female inmates at the Shea Farm halfway house in Concord. He has been convicted of assaulting two women and sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison, but there are 11 cases still pending.

Benjamin Agati of the attorney general's office said Friday that prosecutors offered Tower a plea bargain before his second trial and that Tower recently asked for another offer.

"There is a possibility of a plea, and that is in negotiations," he said.

Tower was convicted in early 2007 of six counts of rape and sexual assault against one woman. In December, he was convicted of grabbing another inmate by the neck. He has appealed the first conviction to the state Supreme Court and asked a judge to vacate the second over a question of juror conduct, but neither issue has been resolved.

Agati said the court's decision on the appeal could influence any pending plea negotiations. If the court throws out the conviction, the 20- to 40-year prison sentence would be thrown out as well.

Meanwhile, the state announced in march that it was paying $1.9 million to 30 inmates and one prison employee who accused Tower of raping or harassing them.

Tower's lawyer declined to comment on a possible plea.

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Information from: Concord Monitor, http://www.cmonitor.com