Former Buffalo Sabre Matthew Barnaby pleaded guilty to DWI and other charges in Clarence Town Court late Tuesday.
38-year-old Barnaby was arrested and charged in the early morning hours of December 5th after he was stopped by Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies for driving erratically and without a front tire in Clarence. Barnaby also refused to take a breathalyzer test after failing a field sobriety test.
The judge has ordered Barnaby to undergo alcohol treatment and perform 100 hours of community service work. He also faces fines and a one-year suspension of his driver’s license. But Barnaby has been spared jail time because it was his first drunk driving offense.
In court, Barnaby told the judge he wants to make sure he seeks help so he doesn’t end up back in court again.
After his court appearance, Barnaby apologized outside the courtroom.
“I take full responsibility for everything that I’ve done,” said Barnaby
.
Barnaby pledged to “do the best to take proper measures to make sure and ensure this does not happen again”. Barnaby also said he was glad the District Attorney held his “feet in the fire” and made him “accountable.”
This is not the first time Barnaby has been arrested. Last May Amherst Police arrested him in connection with a domestic incident.
Barnaby was a hockey analyst with ESPN, but was fired the same day he was arrested.
Barnaby is a Canadian citizen from Ottawa. He could still face deportation back to Canada based on his arrest in May and has hired an immigration attorney.