NASHUA – Steven Fry, one of two men charged in September with forcing two women into a car and holding them at gunpoint, agreed this week to plead guilty to two related charges in exchange for a 1 1/2 to 6-year state prison term.

Meanwhile, lawyers for 28-year-old Justin Joaquin, Fry’s alleged accomplice, are continuing to explore with prosecutors the possibility of also reaching a plea agreement as his case moves forward in Hillsborough County Superior Court South.

Fry, 30, most recently of Manchester, and Joaquin, of West Wareham, Massachusetts, were indicted on three felony counts each by the November grand jury in connection with the incident, which took place in the pre-dawn hours of Sept. 24 in the parking lot of a combination hotel and residential complex in Merrimack.

Fry, who was represented by attorney Adam Bernstein at his plea and sentencing hearing, pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnapping and felon in possession of a dangerous weapon.

A second count of kidnapping was dropped as part of the agreement.

The 1 1/2 to 6-year prison sentence is tied to the felon in possession charge. Fry was given credit for the 86 days he’s spent in jail, which reduces the minimum sentence to roughly 1 year and 3 months.

He was given a 3 1/2 to 7-year prison sentence on the kidnapping charge, all suspended for five years from the date of his release.

He is ordered to have no contact with either victim, who are women in their early 20s identified only by their initials in court documents.

Assistant County Attorney Nicole Thorspecken, who prosecuted the case, told the court that the women were “happy with the sentence.”

“They said they didn’t want to ruin (Fry’s) life, but they believe he should be punished,” Thorspecken said.

Thorspecken, who also is the prosecutor in Joaquin’s case, met in court Wednesday with Judge Charles Temple and Joaquin’s attorney, David Tencza – a former assistant county attorney who is now in private practice.

Joaquin was not present for the brief hearing.

The sides agreed to keep Joaquin’s bail at $10,000 cash or surety as they continue the process of negotiating a possible plea deal.

He is charged with two counts of criminal liability to kidnapping and one count of criminal liability to criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, all Class B felonies, for allegedly acting in concert with Fry in the commission of the crimes.

If the parties fail to reach a plea agreement, Joaquin’s next court appearance will be a trial management conference scheduled for March 9.

Jury selection in his trial is set for March 20.

Temple gave the parties until Jan. 20 to file any motions in the case.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashua

telegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.