HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A commercial truck driver from West Springfield who was acquitted in the 2019 deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for driving under the influence in Connecticut a month before the deadly crash — an offense that should have resulted in his license being revoked. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy appeared in Hartford Superior Court and entered an Alford plea, which means he did not admit guilt but acknowledged the state had enough evidence to win a conviction at trial. The plea results in a conviction, and he was sentenced to 18 months of probation. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy looks back at the gallery before closing statements at his trial at Coos County Superior Court, in Lancaster, N.H., Aug. 9, 2022. (David Lane/Union Leader via AP, Pool, File) “He clearly understands the significance of this,” Zhukovskyy’s lawyer, John O’Brien, said during the brief court proceeding. Zhukovskyy, 29, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, only said “Guilty,” “Yes your honor” and “No your honor” during the hearing. O’Brien clarified it was an Alford plea. Zhukovskyy, wearing a taupe polo shirt under a taupe and white flannel shirt and black pants, did not comment entering or leaving the courthouse. He was arrested for driving under the influence in East Windsor, Connecticut, on May 11, 2019. Connecticut officials alerted the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, but Zhukovskyy’s license wasn’t immediately suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. Local News Headlines Chicopee crews put out basement fire on Hilton Street Western Mass. lawmakers and mothers fight for support for survivors of homicide victims Helix Human Services celebrates 160th anniversary with flag-raising ceremony for National Child Abuse Prevention Senate Democrats seek to protect reproductive and trans health care in Mass. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less