‘I have to be sober,’ says former prosecutor at drunken-driving sentencing

John McDonough

Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough pleaded guilty Thursday, Jan. 28 in Kalamazoo County District Court to operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired. The charge stemmed from a May 11 crash near Three Rivers, Michigan. (MLive file photo)

KALAMAZOO, MI — Getting arrested and getting sober saved his life, former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough told the court Thursday.

McDonough, who was charged by the state attorney general with operating under the influence of alcohol and having open intoxicants in a motor vehicle after a May 11 crash near Three Rivers, pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to an added count of operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired.

The initial two charges were dismissed by Kalamazoo County District Judge Vincent Westra as a result of McDonough’s guilty plea. Westra, who oversaw the case in the capacity of a visiting judge, sentenced McDonough to one year of probation to include continued treatment for alcohol addiction, with the possibility for discharge after six months.

Related: St. Joseph County prosecutor’s case to be heard by Kalamazoo County judge

“I do understand addiction and the insidious beast that addiction is,” Westra said to McDonough. “And my main concern was that you find your way into recovery, because in the end, the best outcome, not just for you, not just for your family, but for the community is that you’re maintaining a program of recovery.”

Westra commended the former prosecutor for having stayed sober for 137 days after overcoming some hurdles early on in the process, including violating his bond condition that prohibited alcohol use.

“Accountability is not just a sanction imposed by the courts,” Westra said. “The community held you accountable. You lost a position that was very, very dear to you, something you’ve worked hard to achieve. And you risk the possibility of losing a career that you spent years in college getting ready for. But you recognize that was a result of your actions, your actions certainly influenced by the beast.”

Related: Prosecutor left crash scene before returning, according to police reports

The former prosecutor — who came under public scrutiny as the result of the crash and amid months of absence from work — lost the seat in a landslide in the August primary election to Republican challenger and recently sworn-in prosecutor David Marvin.

“This has been a tremendously, humbling experience for me,” said an emotional and at-times-tearful McDonough, when addressing the court.

“I was very grateful I was able to finish my term out with a little bit of dignity. I went back to work the last few months of my term and handled hearings and did everything I used to. It was a job I took tremendous pride in and threw away. I went out with absolutely zero fanfare, but I’m here and that’s the most important thing.”

Attorney Michael Hills, who represented McDonough in the matter, said he had advised his client against pleading guilty and told him he felt it was a very triable case.

“He came to me a while back and he wanted to plead guilty to a drunken driving charge and it’s his case and he wants to take responsibility,” Hills said. “And that’s what we’re doing here today, he’s taking responsibility and he’s taking inventory.”

Hills said his client admittedly has a substance abuse disorder, but has been doing good work in recovery, attending multiple meetings a day and pointed out he looks noticeably different in appearance.

“I was on my deathbed last May,” said McDonough, referencing health issues related to his alcohol use. “My mother was preparing my funeral, my wife was in the hospital and everything was failing. Three weeks ago, I went to see the gastro doctor and my organs are functioning normal again.

“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. This disease had a complete stranglehold on my life.”

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