KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A former St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney will serve only probation and fines after a sentencing hearing Thursday.
WWMT reports that John McDonough pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired. As a result of the plea, the two initial charges in the case, drunk driving and open containers, were dismissed.
“I have to be sober no matter what or I’m going to end up dead and there’d be too many things I’d give up doing that,” McDonough said during the hearing. “I am an alcoholic and I realize that, but with your help, quite possibly doing the SoberLink saved my life.”
SoberLink is an alcohol monitoring program started in 2009.
A Kalamazoo County judge was brought in to oversee the case. Judge Vincent Westra sentenced McDonough to one year probation and $1,000 in fines. He also will have to continue treatment for his alcohol addiction.
In May of 2020, McDonough crashed his vehicle through a fence at a house in Lockport Township. Officers said he was visibly intoxicated at the scene of the crash.
