MANCHESTER - Craig Pickering, 35, of 148 Joliette St., asked Circuit Court-Manchester District Division Judge William Lyons for personal recognizance bail on a theft by deception charge.

A police prosecutor had requested $1,000 cash/surety bail for Pickering, who also faces a probation violation charge.

Pickering said he had turned himself in Wednesday on a warrant for his failure to appear on the 2011 charge and wanted to speak with his probation officer.

Lyons, noting the warrant was issued seven months ago, wouldn't go for personal recognizance bail, but reduced the cash/surety bail amount to $500. Pickering's next court date is Jan. 23.

Personal recognizance?

A public defender Thursday requested $10,000 personal recognizance bail be continued for Patrick McNamara, 26, who was arraigned Dec. 20 in another jurisdiction on warrants for his failure to appear in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division on disorderly conduct and contempt of court charges.

Attorney Sara Rothman said bail was set at $1,000 cash/surety for McNamara, of 140 Central St., at his arraignment Wednesday on a felony drug charge in Hillsborough County Superior Court North.

Rothman said: "He struggles with addiction." She said he would enter treatment at Farnum House within two weeks of release on bail.

Rothman said McNamara is indigent and he missed at least one of his court dates because he was in treatment in Massachusetts in August. McNamara was arrested three times in July, for disorderly conduct and contempt of court and drug possession. He was scheduled for trial Sept. 25 on two disorderly conduct and three contempt of court charges and he was indicted on the drug charge.

Judge William Lyons set bail at $500 cash/surety and trial was set for Feb. 20.

Accused of assault

Osman Sesay, 21, of 443 Hanover St., pleaded innocent Thursday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault that alleges he shoved his girlfriend onto a couch and punched her in the stomach Wednesday.

Bail was continued at $1,000 personal recognizance, with conditions that include not going to a specific residence in Concord and not going to the Burlington Coat Factory store in Concord.

Trial was set for March 5.

Missed two court dates

Trial was set for Feb. 20 in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division for Brandon Perry, 20, of 10 First Ave., on a charge of second offense operating after suspension.

Perry told Judge William Lyons: "I failed to appear here twice."

But Perry said he was in the Valley Street jail on one of those court dates. Lyons told him he owes $100 - $50 for each missed court appearance.

Perry was arrested March 4 at Pennacook and Pine streets for driving after being convicted of driving on a suspended license.

Lyons set bail at $2,000 cash/surety, with conditions that include not driving until his privileges are restored.