By Julie Manganis
IPSWICH — A Gloucester man charged with lying to police to try to get one of his sisters out of trouble for impersonating the other has admitted to the charge.
Justin Goodwin, 36, of 19 Commonwealth Ave., Gloucester, pleaded guilty to one count of misleading police and was sentenced to six months in jail yesterday in Newburyport District Court.
He'll have to serve 30 days; the balance will be suspended for a year.
Goodwin was a passenger in a car allegedly being driven by his sister Kalem Goodwin, 32, who has been charged with giving police a false name, driving without a license and driving to endanger, after an Oct. 29 crash in downtown Ipswich.
Kalem Goodwin allegedly struck a nun in a crosswalk.
Police say she gave the name of her sister.
Justin Goodwin subsequently told police and testified at a court hearing that Kalem was not the driver of the car and that it was his other sister, something police had already confirmed was untrue.
Justin and Kalem Goodwin were also at the center of the Gloucester beating case in which Justin was allegedly attacked by a group of men outside the Old Timer's Tavern after they were asked to leave.
Justin Goodwin was hospitalized and underwent surgery after the attack, and has filed a civil suit against the alleged assailants and the bar's owner. The Goodwins say Justin was targeted in that incident because he is openly gay.
Julie Manganis may be contacted at jmanganis@gloucestertimes.com.
