COLUMBUS, Ohio – Matthew Cordle will have more than six years to think about the deadly crash he caused while driving drunk.
Franklin County Judge David Fais sentenced Cordle, 22, on Wednesday to six years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide and six months for driving under the influence of alcohol. He also revoked his driving privileges for life as required by state law.
His lawyers had asked Fais for a lighter sentence, arguing that leniency would send a message of support for someone who took responsibility for his actions. But Angela Canzani, the victim’s daughter, saw it quite differently.
“I’ve heard time and time again about a message. But the message I do not want to send is, if you hit and kill someone, all you have to do is admit to it later and get leniency,” she told the court.
Cordle promised to plead guilty in the video, which was posted before he was charged.
He had faced up to eight years for killing Vincent Canzani in a June 22 crash. He had been on his way home after a night of drinking at bars near downtown Columbus.
Cordle had been in jail since his guilty plea last month.