Haverhill

Kevin Flaherty to serve four months in jail; James Flaherty gets six months of home confinement

By Mike LaBella
mlabella@eagletribune.com
Published: June 30, 2009

HAVERHILL — Retired Highway Superintendent James Flaherty is expected to be confined to his home for six months, while his son Kevin Flaherty, a former Haverhill Highway Department official, will serve four months in jail.

They were sentenced today in Salem Superior Court by Judge David Lowy for using their city jobs for personal gain.

On a charge of larceny over $250, James Flaherty received a two-year sentence in the house of correction, but may serve no time in jail. The judge recommended to Sheriff Frank Cousins that the elder Flaherty serve six months in the confinement of his home, with the remainder of the sentence to be probation.

On three tax charges, he was sentenced to probation for three and a half years, and he was ordered to pay back all the money owed to the state, with interest and penalties. That totals $89,000 for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

On a charge of larceny over $250, Kevin Flaherty also received a two-year sentence in the house of correction, with four months to be served in Middleton jail. On the false claim charge, Kevin Flaherty was sentenced to probation for three years and ordered to pay restitution to the city in the amount of $856. As part of his probation, he must serve 200 hours of community service.

Both men were led out of the courtroom immediately after sentencing by the judge. They were en route to Middleton jail for processing at the time of this report. The sheriff will review James Flaherty's home and determine whether it is suitable for house arrest or if Flaherty should spend the six months in jail.

Their lawyer, attorney Scott Gleason of Haverhill, said James Flaherty will be in jail overnight and probably until Friday, when he is expected to begin serving his home confinement. Gleason said Kevin Flaherty will spend his four-month term at Middleton jail.

A complete report will appear in Wednesday's edition of The Eagle-Tribune.