NEWBURYPORT — A former Seabrook police sergeant was sentenced to 18 months' probation yesterday after being found guilty by Newburyport District Court Judge Peter Doyle for drunken driving following a multi-car crash on North End Boulevard in Salisbury on July 31.
Mark F. Preston, 51, of 815 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, was also sentenced to 18 months' probation for leaving the scene of personal injury, avoiding the potential of up to two years in jail. Those charged with drunken driving for the first time are not often sent to jail.
Essex County District Attorney spokesman Steve O'Connell said Preston, a former state representative and 30-year-plus police veteran, admitted to sufficient facts on the drunken-driving charges. By admitting to sufficient facts, Preston acknowledged a jury could have found him guilty.
O'Connell said the leaving the scene of personal injury charge was generally continued for 18 months, meaning that as long as he adheres to the condition of his probation, the charge will be dismissed. A third charge for marked lanes violation was dropped.
Under the terms of his probation, Preston must remain drug and alcohol free with random screens, give up his driver's license for 90 days, complete an alcohol safety awareness program and pay $600 in fines.
Prosecutor Maura Bailey had petitioned for two years' probation, while Preston's attorney, Gerard LaFlamme, was seeking 18 months' probation but only a 60-day loss of license, according to court documents.
Preston did not return a phone call seeking comment on the judge's decision.
According to court documents, the off-duty Preston had just left the Shore Club shortly before 9 p.m. when he rammed into a motorist looking for an address along North End Boulevard, also known as Route 1A. The force of the collision sent the motorist's Kia sedan into two parked cars. Police say Preston then tried to leave the scene but was spotted by bystanders, who alerted police upon their arrival.
Days after his arrest, Preston resigned from the force, according to Seabrook town officials. But Preston, through a union representative from the New England Police Benevolent Society, disputed the town's claim that Preston resigned. Instead, Preston had informed the town he was going to retire, thus protecting his pension fund and his certification as a police officer, according to the union representative.
Preston had been a member of the Seabrook Police Department since 1980 and was among the department's longest-serving officers. Only police Chief Patrick Manthorn has served with the Seabrook Police Department longer than Preston, not counting part-time officers, according to the department's online duty roster.
Earlier this year, Preston ran an unsuccessful campaign to fill an unexpected vacancy for the Rockingham District 14 seat in the state House of Representatives, failing to win the Democratic primary held in July. Previously, he served two terms as Rockingham District 14's state representative, but chose not to run for a third term last year. Preston also served six years on the Seabrook Planning Board, three as vice chairman.
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