The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department says Sheriff Nick Cocchi entered a plea admitting sufficient facts in a Springfield court Monday — two days after being arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence at the MGM Casino in Springfield.
Cocchi’s office says the sheriff’s driver’s license will be temporarily suspended while the case is continued without finding. Cocchi was arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence and released on his own recognizance.
In a statement released by the department, Cocchi said he is sorry for not living up to the high standards he has set for himself, his staff, and the justice population. He adds, “I take complete responsibility for my actions.”
Cocchi has been sheriff since 2017 and is in his second six-year term. The state attorney general’s office has jurisdiction over alleged violations at casinos in the state.
