McDonough sentenced to probation

Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was sentenced to one year of probation and other conditions Thursday.

Appearing via Zoom before Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Vincent Westra, the 41-year-old McDonough learned his fate after pleading guilty to the charge of operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired.

In exchange for McDonough’s guilty plea, Westra agreed to drop two additional charges. As a term of his probation, McDonough was ordered to continue treatment for alcohol addiction.

Westra indicated a reduced term of probation is possible, contingent on how well McDonough adheres to court-ordered conditions.

McDonough’s case stems from a May 11 incident on Lovers Lane in Lockport Township, where McDonough drove his vehicle into a fence on private property.

During Thursday’s court proceedings, McDonough reiterated he has sought help and has not had an alcoholic drink in more than four months. He called the drunken-driving experience “tremendously humbling.”