
A man accused of taking a Derby Fire Department vehicle on a drunken joyride was sentenced to probation after taking a plea deal in the case.
The man, Patrick McGuire, pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence Monday at Superior Court in Derby, according to court records.
A plea of no contest, or nolo contendere, means a defendant does not dispute the charges against him, but does not admit them either — though a judgement of guilt is entered in the case.
McGuire, a Seymour resident, received a suspended six-month jail sentence and 18 months probation, according to court records.
He was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and $98 in costs and fees.
The disposition is common in Connecticut for people convicted of driving under the influence for the first time in cases that do not involve crashes.
McGuire’s lawyer, Charles Tiernan, said his client denied some of the specific facts alleged by police in the case.
“He doesn’t agree with what they say he did but under the circumstances he’s not contesting the charge,” Tiernan said. “He was treated as he should have been — appropriately.”
According to an arrest warrant, emergency responders were sent to a motor vehicle accident 3:30 p.m. May 29 in front of a condominium complex at 233 Derby Ave.
Police saw a Kubota off-road vehicle on its side. The vehicle belonged to Paugassett Hook and Ladder, a Derby volunteer fire department company, according to police.
McGuire is not a member of the Paugassetts’.
At the time of the crash he was wearing the uniform of an Ansonia fire company, and had been allegedly drinking for most of the day, including at a party at the Paugies’ on Route 34 after the annual Derby-Shelton Memorial Day Parade.
No one from the fire department spoke during Monday’s hearing or submitted written testimony to the court, according to Tiernan.
McGuire was arrested Oct. 19, 2017.