Ohio Man Who Confessed to Felony DUI on YouTube Gets 6 ½ Years in Prison
An Ohio judge has sentenced a man who confessed his crime on YouTube to 6 ½ years in prison on felony DUI charges.
On Wednesday, October 23rd, Franklin County Judge David Fais sentenced 22-year-old Matthew Cordle, whose YouTube confession to killing a man while driving drunk went viral over the summer, to 6 years for aggravated vehicular homicide, and 6 months for driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, by Ohio state felony DUI law, Cordle’s driving privileges were revoked for life.
Cordle could have received up to 8 ½ years for the death of Vincent Canzani, 61, in the June 22nd crash.
Cordle’s video begins: “My name is Mathew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani. This video will act as my confession. When I get charged, I will plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I’ve done to Vincent and his family. … I won’t dishonor Vincent’s memory by lying about what happened.”
On the evening of June 22nd, Cordle had been drinking at some bars in downtown Columbus. When police tested Cordle’s blood alcohol content (BAC) at the scene of the crash, it was 0.19%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08%.
At his September 3rd hearing, Cordle pleaded guilty to felony DUI and has been in jail since then.
The victim’s family had mixed reactions to Cordle’s internet confession. Cheryl Oates, Vincent Canzani’s wife, says that she believes Cordle should spend time in jail, but she thinks his remorse is genuine. Canzani’s daughter Angela, however, has said that she does not think it is fair for a person who commits manslaughter due to felony DUI to simply apologize and get some leniency. At the sentencing hearing, she said: “My father got a death sentence and did nothing wrong … After eight and half years, Matthew Cordle will still have his whole life ahead of him, my father is never coming back.”
During the sentencing hearing, Cordle read a statement from a folded yellow piece of paper.
“The true punishment is simpy living, living with the knowledge that I took an innocent life,” said Cordle. “That pain and weight will never go away.”
South Carolina Felony DUI Law
- A person will be charged with a felony for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both, if while operating the vehicle under the influence, the person causes “great bodily injury” or death to a person other than himself including a passenger, pedestrian, another driver.
- Great bodily injury is defined by the state of South Carolina as bodily injury, which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious or permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
- Additionally, if the injured person dies from related complications (such as a coma) within three years of the DUI-related injury, the driver may be implicated in the death.
- Upon conviction of a felony DUI by jury, the accused faces a minimum mandatory prison sentence and fine.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Felony DUI Charges in South Carolina
Based in Columbia, SC, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm collectively have over 30 years of experience with South Carolina law. The firm was founded in 1996 by former US Attorney and Assistant Solicitor Pete Strom. If you face felony DUI charges in South Carolina, we can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Do not let DUI or felony DUI charges prevent you from pursuing opportunities. Contact us today. 803.252.4800
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