PORTSMOUTH — A local man is charged with lying to authorities about his involvement in an alleged hit-and-run accident by telling them his son was driving the vehicle.

The problem with his story, police say, is David Ponzer's son is an infant.

Ponzer, 44, of 62 Porpoise Way, is charged with Class A misdemeanor counts of conduct after an accident and providing a false report to police following a motor vehicle accident on Dec. 31.

Ponzer was slated to go to trial this week on the charges, but his case has been continued.

A police affidavit filed by Officer Christopher Kiberd indicates a driver came to the police department on Dec. 31 and filed a report that his pickup truck had been struck from behind on Market Street by a motorist driving an older model Volvo station wagon.

The reporting party told police the driver of the vehicle who hit him did not stop, and that the Volvo in question would be missing its grill as a result of the accident.

Court papers indicate that on Jan. 2, the motorist who reported the accident had done some investigating of his own, learned the suspect Volvo was parked at Ponzer's address and provided police with the Volvo's grill.

According to the affidavit, Kiberd responded to the 62 Porpoise Way residence and found a damaged Volvo matching the description in the driveway with part of its grill missing.

The officer questioned Ponzer about who "normally" drives the Volvo and was told by Ponzer that his son drives the vehicle, but he told police his son was not at home.

Police informed Ponzer the vehicle had been in an accident and that they needed to speak to his son.

Police allege Ponzer told them his son is named William Ponzer and was born March 4, 1993.

Authorities say Ponzer told police he would have his son contact police.

Kiberd's affidavit indicates he was leaving the residence when he "happened upon one of the neighbors" and asked if they had seen Ponzer's son driving the vehicle recently.

"The subject laughed and informed me Ponzer's son is still an infant," Kiberd wrote in the affidavit.

Police followed up and found no police records for a William Ponzer matching the description, but did find a William David Ponzer who they say is David Ponzer's father.