Judge: Complete Treatment or Else!

WOBURN - A 66-year-old Army veteran with a 15-page alcohol-fueled record repeatedly gets stopped by the police for driving without a license and other alcohol-related offenses.

But on Friday, Woburn District Court Judge Timothy Gailey gave Matthews an ultimatum: Either complete alcohol treatment or go to jail.

Prosecutors admit that Matthews is not a candidate for probation to resolve his Sept. 1, 2016 charge - one of many - of operating after suspension.

In a desperate attempt to keep his client from a nine-month jail stint jail, Matthews' attorney explained that his client, an Army veteran, is trying to get sober by participating in a residential program at the Bedford Veterans Administration.

Gailey responded, "I'd much rather have you succeed in a program than spend time in jail.''