Former Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Joseph Brennan was reportedly sentenced on Thursday to at least three months in prison in connection to allegations that he assaulted his wife and operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Brennan was arrested back in August after police received allegations that he punched and choked his wife at their home in Fountain Hill, and then drove away while under the influence. Sources say the arrest was Brennan's second for DUI in two years.
Brenan was first elected to office back in 2006. Following the incident last fall, Brennan dropped his effort at re-election and pleaded guilty to simple assault and drunken driving as a second offense.
Due to the efforts of his wife, Brennan was able to avoid prison on the simple assault charge. Unfortunately, his request for home confinement on the DUI charge-requested because the prison term would put his new position as a research analyst with the House Democratic Caucus at risk and potentially cause his family financial hardship-was denied by the judge in charge of his case, despite the fact that prosecutors had no objections.
According to a spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus, Brennan will be placed on unpaid leave from his position and his status will be up for review upon his release from prison.
According to Brennan's defense attorney, Brennan's long struggle with alcoholism was behind the loss of his elected position and is also threatening the stability of his family.
As we point out time and again on this blog, criminal charges can have a major impact on a person's life, and it is important to obtain the best defense possible when facing them.
Source: Connecticut Post, "Ex-Pa. lawmaker gets prison after assault, DUI," January 3, 2012
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