State representative John J. Lawn charged with OUI

State Rep. John J. Lawn, D-Mass., who represents parts of Waltham, Watertown and Newton in the 10th Middlesex District, appeared in Boston Municipal Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of property damage.

A Boston Municipal Court judge then gave Lawn, 56, one year of probation and a 45-day license suspension . 

According to the arrest details, Boston Police arrested Lawn around 2 a.m. on Wednesday after a witness told police that he had struck a parked car on Hancock Street.

Lawn told responding officers that he was a state representative and refused a breathalyzer test.

Lawn initially had pleaded not guilty to the charges at his first court appearance on Thursday and was scheduled for an Aug 1 pretrial hearing.

However, Lawn changed his plea to guilty at his second hearing later that day. 

In a statement released by his attorney, Lawn said he takes responsibility for his actions and issued an apology for his decisions on Wednesday.

On the other side of the political aisle, Mark Steffen, a spokesperson for MassGOP, called for Lawn’s resignation.