Rochester man found guilty on all counts in hit-and-run death of Pease commander

Paul Clement; inset, John Pogorek, commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard (Clement/Rochester Police; Pogorek/courtesy)

ROCHESTER - The Rochester man accused of negligent homicide in the hit-and-run death of New Hampshire's Air National Guard commander was found guilty of all charges by a Strafford County jury on Monday.
Paul Clement, 82, is now facing up to what would amount to a life sentence: up to 15 years for negligent homicide and up to seven years for conduct after an accident (hit-and-run). He was also found guilty of DUI, a misdemeanor.
The fatal hit-and-run that took the life of Brig. Gen. John Pogorek, 57, of Strafford, occurred around 5:20 p.m. in the area of Crown Point Road in Rochester. When officers arrived on scene they were told that Pogorek had pulled his truck and trailer to the side of the road to fix a strap that was holding down hay he was hauling. While re-securing the strap a vehicle driven by Clement struck Pogorek. Clement never stopped the vehicle but continued on.
Pogorek was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Not long after the accident, police received a tip that Clement was the driver of the vehicle that struck Pogorek. Police located Clement and the vehicle, and the vehicle was impounded.
An indictment handed down in October 2024 accused Clement of driving "under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a controlled drug ... while operating a motor vehicle."
During a five-day trial defense lawyers argued that Clement suffered from a condition called hypnatremia, which can produce similar symptoms to impairment.
Pogorek was named commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in 2022, and his duties included keeping Adj. General David J. Mikolaities and former Gov. Chris Sununu apprised of all matters related to the New Hampshire Air National Guard. He was also responsible for all operations at the base.
In September Club Victoire of Rochester lost its liquor license for at least 20 days following the New Hampshire Liquor Commission's ruling that it overserved alcohol to several patrons including to Clement the day of Pogorek's death.
Clement will be sentenced sometime early next year.