State senator heads to jail after probation violation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A judge has sentenced State Sen. Anthony Galluccio to a year in jail for violating his probation.

Galluccio was taken out of Cambridge District Court in handcuffs after a judge refused to believe the state senator’s explanation that toothpaste caused him to fail Breathalyzer tests last month.

The Cambridge Democrat pleaded guilty on Dec. 18 to leaving the scene of an October accident. Galluccio reportedly struck a minivan carrying a family of four, including two children.

Galluccio later admitted he panicked in the moment due to his past record of drunk driving convictions. He also allegedly had consumed alcohol 13 hours prior to the accident and was unable to drive himself home at that time.

Judge Matthew Nestor ordered Galluccio to surrender his driver's license for five years and to submit to random alcohol testing. He was also sentenced to six months of home confinement.

Just three days into his home confinement, Galluccio blew .037 on a court-ordered Breathalyzer test. Prosecutors in court Monday asserted that Galluccio failed repeated breath tests at his home just six days after being sentenced.

“I have no idea what could have made that machine have that reading. All I knew is that I had not ingested alcohol,” said Galluccio.

Galluccio even went as far as to bring in an expert from Texas to prove that it was his toothpaste that caused the reading.

Michael Jacobs, a probation department official, in court described an earlier conversation with Galluccio about his toothpaste.

“I asked Mr. Galluccio if he had been drinking. He said he hadn’t. He said all he had today was chicken soup, a turkey sandwich and a cup of coffee. I asked if he had used mouthwash earlier or anything that had alcohol. At that time, he stated that he had used tooth-whitening toothpaste,” said Jacobs.

Galluccio’s attorneys also suggested the breathalyzer machines may have been faulty.

Senate president Therese Murray is now joining Republican calls for Galluccio to resign. Prior to the hearing, Galluccio reiterated that he did not plan to resign.

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