(John) Sweeney pleads guilty to downgraded DWI charge, faces 30 days

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: The Saratogian

BALLSTON SPA — John Sweeney pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in Saratoga County Court today and faces 30 days in Saratoga County Jail when sentenced on April 23.

Sweeney, 53, the former 20th district U.S. representative, was arrested on April 5, 2009 by state troopers. He was traveling 59 mph in a 40 mph zone on Route 9 in Clifton Park and was drunk, police said.

This is Sweeney’s second conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was originally charged with a felony for the 2009 arrest.

Sweeney’s lawyer, E. Stewart Jones, said he and his client were satisfied with the outcome of the case.

“We just wanted to avoid a felony and we were able to do that,” Jones said. Sweeney will keep his license to practice law.

Read more: http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/02/26/news/doc4b8849789f587279088044.txt

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More news on my disgraced former congressman... He rarely had a Democratic challenger, over the years, until Kirsten Gillibrand took him on and won in 2006.

[joeybee12]

1. Second conviction shou;d be a felony, no way to barter out IMHO...n/t

[Jkid]

2. And a driving ban of at least six months.

He's a wealthy man, he can get a limousine.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Of course he can. He should have thought of that before...

I'm confused why his two DWIs here in NY don't constitute a felony... But that would send him to state prison, rather than jail. :shrug:

A first-offense Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) case is a misdemeanor. However, if there has been a prior DWI or drunk driving conviction within 10 years of the arrest, the new charge is a felony. The 10-year period is calculated from the date of conviction of the prior DWI case, through the date of arrest for the new DWI case.

http://www.1800duilaws.com/states/ny.asp

[Rhiannon12866]

4. That was my question, too...

DWI punishment in New York will depend upon whether the drunk driving arrest is for a misdemeanor or a felony. (A misdemeanor DWI / DUI case is one than can be punished by up to one year in jail; a felony drunk driving arrest may be punished for more than a year in state prison.)

A first-offense Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) case is a misdemeanor. However, if there has been a prior DWI or drunk driving conviction within 10 years of the arrest, the new charge is a felony. The 10-year period is calculated from the date of conviction of the prior DWI case, through the date of arrest for the new DWI case.

http://www.1800duilaws.com/states/ny.asp

[djg21]

5. The community service is a joke!

Pro bono legal services? God forbid! He's a moron who barely graduated from law school, and never practiced a day in his life. He'd do the community a bigger service by never setting foot in a courtroom or attempting to undertake lawyering of any kind.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. He's better qualified to pick up trash from along the highway...

But he does "know people," otherwise he wouldn't have evaded prosecution until now. That could help out any client who comes his way. The former (Republican) district attorney of Warren County (NY, in Sweeney's former district), who was removed from office for misconduct, also appears to be going this route... These guys have no shame. x(

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Recently, I heard from a friend that Sweeney was the guest speaker at an AA meeting...

My friend was kind of taken aback at my negative reaction, said that the man is is recovery, but he's sure been reluctant to admit that he has a problem, let alone face the repercussions... :grr:

[tabasco]

8. Good thing he didn't have any pot!

Then he would be in REAL trouble.

[tabasco]

9. I know someone who's a lifelong FELON because he got caught with some pot plants.

He wasn't hurting a flea.

Goddamn drunk drivers kill thousands and get a slap on the wrist.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. I know people in recovery who have been in prison for more than one DWI.

And they are also convicted felons. Unless they're in NYS Drug Court, have to jump through all kinds of hoops, they face 1 1/2 - 2 years in state prison. John Sweeney barely has to experience any changes in his life. Even his "community service" is something that he'd be doing, anyway... :grr:

I don't know if Sweeney has ever used pot, but the frat boys he's partied with do... ;)

[boppers]

11. Ignition interlock, 3 years probation, one year of intake monitoring...

Yeah, the party is over for him, for at least a few years. Hope it does him some good.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Maybe, but only if he takes his recovery seriously.

But I'm not holding my breath. x(

THE TWELVE STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become
unmanageable.