Drunk Driver Who Confessed On YouTube To Killing A Man Sentenced To Prison
Matthew Cordle, 22, was sentenced for aggravated vehicular homicide and six months for driving under the influence of alcohol. His case caught global attention after his public YouTube confession, saying 'I killed a man.'
By Sadho Ram — 10 Sep 2013, 06:38 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Man who confessed to drunk driving death on YouTube sentenced to prison
The man who posted a remorseful YouTube video confessing to killing a man in a drunk driving accident has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison.
aljazeera.com
Defense attorney George Breitmayer, left, talks to Matthew Cordle during Cordle's sentencing on Oct. 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio.Tony Dejak/AP
Image via aljazeera.comThe 22-year-old admitted that he was under the influence during a fatal accident — an admission he posted in a YouTube video, which currently has more than 2.3 million views.
mashable.com
In the video, Cordle begs others not to make the same mistake and promises to take responsibility for his actions. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 18 to aggravated vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated during the June 22 crash.
theverge.com
Cordle's sentence requires he spend the first six months in the Franklin County Correctional Center before moving to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for the duration. He will receive about one month's credit for the time he's already spent incarcerated. Under state law, Cordle is not eligible for early release.
mashable.com
Attorneys Martin Midian (left) and George Breitmayer III (right) sit with Cordle as they listen Tuesday to a Franklin County judge.
Image via nydailynews.comIn addition to the prison time, Cordle's sentence included a lifetime suspension of his driving privileges and a fine of $1,075, plus court costs.
nydailynews.comThe video was filmed Sept. 3, and the version posted on YouTube has been viewed more than 1.2 million times
Moment of truth: Matthew Cordle identifies himself when the effects are taken away and says that he will plead guilty to any charges that he faces stemming from the June 22 accident
Image via dailymail.co.ukThe video begins with Cordle's face blurred as he describes how he has struggled with depression and was simply trying to have a good time with friends going "from bar to bar" the night of the accident.
He then describes how he ended up driving into oncoming traffic on Interstate 670. Cordle's face becomes clear as he reveals his name and confesses to killing Canzani. He ends the video by pleading with viewers not to drink and drive.
Some viewers thought the video was "a crock," in the words of one commenter on the video site, the victim's ex-wife, Cheryl Oates, says she believes Cordle's remorse is genuine
Canzani's ex-wife, Cheryl Oates, says she believes Cordle's remorse is genuine. "He said I made a huge mistake, and I'm going to take what's coming to me," Oates said. "You've got to respect him for that."
cnn.comOates said Cordle should spend time in prison. But as a mother of two sons, she also feels pain for Cordle when she watches the video. "It's gut-wrenching coming from a mother looking at that young boy, and he just doesn't understand the damage that he did," she said.
dailymail.co.ukHis pledge: Cordle, 22, said that he was fully aware of the legal implications of making the video
His pledge: Cordle, 22, said that he was fully aware of the legal implications of making the video
Image via dailymail.co.ukMatthew Cordle’s video confession has lead to his indictment
He admitted on tape to killing a man as moving music played in the background — now it's time to pay the piper. The Ohio man whose high-quality video confession to killing a man while driving drunk was indicted Monday for aggravated vehicular homicide.
nydailynews.comCordle, 22, was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide Monday and booked into Franklin County Jail. He declined to comment on the advice of his lawyers.
Victim: Vincent Canzani was 61 at the time of his death (pictured recently at right) and previously served in the Navy (seen in his uniform in an undated photo at left)
Victim: Vincent Canzani was 61 at the time of his death (pictured recently at right) and previously served in the Navy (seen in his uniform in an undated photo at left)
Image via imgur.comMatthew faces up to eight and a half years behind bars
Ohio's legal system must decide what punishment fits his crime. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of eight and a half years in prison, prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
dailymail.co.ukCordle's attorneys downplayed any suggestion that Cordle made the video in hopes of winning a light sentence. But a harsh sentence also doesn't make sense, they said.
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