Thursday, April 15, 2010

Do not pass go, do not collect $200

A former upstate congressman is behind bars today after turning himself in at the Saratoga County Jail earlier this week.

John Sweeney once represented New York's 20th Congressional District. Now, he's in prison to serve a 30-day sentence for driving while intoxicated.

Sweeney entered into a plea deal earlier this year. The agreement let him avoid a potential felony conviction and allows him to continue practicing law.

Lawyers convicted of felonies in New York face losing their license.

Once his 30 days are up, Sweeney must wear an alcohol detection ankle bracelet so his probation officer can monitor him from a computer. The device costs $4,000 annually, a price Sweeney is required to pay out of pocket.

Sweeney was arrested last April when troopers pulled him over for going 59 miles per hour in a 40 zone in Clifton Park. He refused a breathalyzer test.

He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DWI charges in 2007.

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