MANCHESTER - A city man pleaded innocent Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a misdemeanor simple assault charge that alleges he pushed his girlfriend, Julie Gallien, up against a wall.

Bail was set at $1,000 cash/surety for Eric Alton, 44, of 126 Union St., with conditions that include no contact with Gallien and not going within 100 yards of where she may be. Trial was set for Jan. 31, 2013.

Gallien, 48, of 106 Union St., pleaded innocent to a charge of stalking and violation of bail conditions for being with Alton Thursday.

Gallien told Judge William Lyons: "I don't how how I can stalk someone in my living room." Gallien said she was putting away the Thanksgiving things and putting up her Christmas tree at home Thursday. She told Lyons that if she is kept in jail, she will lose her apartment and her job.

But because Gallien was out on bail, with conditions barring contact with Alton, she will be held for a hearing Monday morning. Trial was set for Jan. 17, 2013.

Accused of stealing jacket

Daniel Padro, 26, of 376 Manchester St., pleaded innocent Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a misdemeanor theft by unauthorized taking charge. Trial was set for Jan. 31, 2013.

Padro is accused of removing a North Face jacket priced at $199.99 from the Sports Authority, 1051 S. Willow St., Wednesday night without paying for it.

Police prosecutor Carissa Pelletier sought bail of $2,000 cash/surety, noting Padro's criminal history includes assault, obstructing the report of a crime, violation of probation and drug sale. He is subject to a 72-hour probation hold.

Trial was set for Jan. 31.

Old and new charges

Russell Williamson, 50, of 24.5 Central St., Nashua, was ready to plead guilty to 2011 charges of driving after suspension and conduct after an accident Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division.

But because he also faces a felony charge of indecent exposure and two criminal threatening charges, Judge William Lyons said Williamson can speak with his court-appointed attorney and perhaps arrange to resolve the motor vehicle charges at his Dec. 5 probable cause hearing on the indecent exposure charge, which is a felony because of prior convictions for the same thing.

Otherwise, said Lyons, the motor vehicle charges will be tried on the Feb. 4, 2013, trial date set for the criminal threatening charges that allege he threatened to snap a woman's neck and two days later called her again and threatened to kill her.

Bail was set at $3,000 cash/surety, with conditions barring contact with either of his victims.

Asks for time to pay fine

Scott Hutton, 40, who is homeless, Monday told Circuit Court-Manchester District Court Judge William Lyons that he didn't show up when scheduled to pay his $930 fine on a New Hampshire State Police driving while intoxicated conviction because he was just laid off.

Lyons said court paperwork indicated that there was an agreement between Hutton and Judge Gregory Michael that Hutton would appear on a certain date and pay the fine or serve it off at $50 a day.

When Hutton failed to appear as scheduled, a bench warrant was issued and Hutton was arrested and appeared Friday as a detainee.

Hutton asked Lyons for more time to pay the fine, saying he would come up with the money. He also said he had not made any agreement with Michael to serve off the fine if he didn't pay it by a certain date.

Lyons set bail at $1,000 personal recognizance and set a Dec.3 court date for Hutton to appear before Judge Michael.

Accused of assaulting wife

Police prosecutor Carissa Pelletier successfully sought $5,000 cash/surety bail Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division for a man accused of assaulting his wife.

Stephen Bunker, 33, of 155 Maple St., is accused of grabbing his wife by the arm and squeezing it and of throwing her on the couch and pushing her head into a pillow early Friday morning.

Pelletier said Bunker was convicted of criminal threatening in July and of two simple assault charges in 2007, all involving the same victim.

Conditions of Bunker's bail bar contact with his wife and bar him from going within 100 yards of where she may be. Trial was set for Feb. 4, 2013.