DOVER – Prosecutors filed criminal charges this week against former congressional candidate Gary Dodds mere hours before the statute of limitations was to run out, in a move that allows additional charges to be filed later.

Dodds, 42, of Rye, is charged with conduct after an accident, for allegedly leaving the scene, and causing false public alarms, for allegedly misleading police, in connection with his crash on the Spaulding Turnpike April 5 last year. The two class A misdemeanor charges were filed late Wednesday afternoon and are each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Class A misdemeanors have a 12-month statute of limitations in New Hampshire, but by filing the initial charges, more misdemeanors related to the crash can be added later.

State police issued a statement yesterday saying the crash investigation is ongoing and "further charges may be forthcoming." Dodds will be arraigned May 3 at 9 a.m. in Strafford County Superior Court.

Dodds and his wife Cynthia did not return messages left on their home and cell phones yesterday, but their attorney, J.P. Nadeau, of Portsmouth, issued a statement condemning the charges.

"I am saddened and dismayed for Mr. and Mrs. Dodds and their children that the state has chosen to file misdemeanor complaints, continuing its unfounded accusations of Mr. Dodds and further subjecting he, his wife and his young children to further embarrassment," the statement reads. "It is not humorous at all that these complaints are being filed and released on the anniversary date of Mr. Dodds' accident, particularly in light of the very serious and long-term injuries he sustained in that accident. We will be looking into these circumstances further."

Police and prosecutors said little about the case yesterday other than to announce the charges and promised more information as the trial proceeds.

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Dodds' car crashed heading south on the Spaulding Turnpike just north of the Dover tolls, but he wasn't on scene when passersby stopped to help. A massive search was launched in the surrounding area and Dodds was found a little over 24 hours later under a pile of leaves.

Dodds told investigators he was disoriented after the crash and stumbled off the road, then later crossed the Bellamy River, finally resting in the leaves where he was found.

Gary Dodds receives medical attention from rescue workers after he was found last year. (AP)

Speculation over what caused the crash and what happened after has been rampant with inconsistent evidence and a police investigation fueling a small media frenzy in June over an affidavit and search warrant against Dodds that news outlets, including the New Hampshire Union Leader, petitioned to unseal.

Police were pursing charges of theft of services, false alarms and falsifying evidence when they executed their search warrant shortly after the crash, the affidavit revealed. Officers were concerned that Dodds didn't show signs of staying outdoors for 24 hours and that only small portions of his clothing were wet despite his claim that he crossed a river.

Police also questioned a head injury Dodds allegedly received in the crash.

"There is no evidence the driver struck their head on anything inside the vehicle," lead investigator state police Sgt. Richard Mitchell wrote in the affidavit.

Deputy Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi yesterday told the New Hampshire Union Leader the charges took a year to file because the case has been long and detailed with many agencies involved. About a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the search, including Dover and state police, the Strafford County Sheriff's department and even the U.S. Coast Guard.

"It was a long, exhaustive investigation," Velardi said.

Although Dodds remained in the race for the First Congressional District, he ended up with only 1,125 votes in the Democratic primary, a distant third to Carol Shea-Porter, the winner, and runner-up Jim Craig.