Maher was sentenced to 3½ years in jail, with the last 6 months suspended.
SPRINGFIELD — A 54-year-old city man has been sentenced to 3½ years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow after pleading guilty to operating under the influence of alcohol for the seventh time.
John Maher, of 122 Chestnut St., also pleaded guilty to operating after his license was suspended. Maher was indicted in February 2012.
Hampden Superior Court Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder Wednesday sentenced Maher to the 3½ years, but suspended the last six months. Two years probation will start after Maher gets out of jail.
Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth asked for a three- to four-year state prison sentence, while defense lawyer Stephen Shea asked for a 2½-year county jail sentence.
Maher’s previous six operating under the influence offenses occurred between 1981 and 1996.
There were two in Westfield and one each in Amherst, Chicopee, Palmer and Easthampton.