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Matthew Monthie will serve 3 ⅓-10 years in prison for killing Selkirk resident Shawna Marzahl in car crash
ALBANY — This is what drunk driving looks like.
Matthew Monthie sat in an Albany County courtroom chair, the back of the 29 year old’s head facing more than 40 friends and family members of Selkirk resident Shawna Marzahl. Marzahl’s supporters, wearing “Justice for Shawna” buttons, nearly filled the court’s spectator benches. He sat alone, hands clasped in his lap, head tilted slightly forward, eyes intermittently closing before court began at 10 a.m.
He wore the last crisp blue button-down shirt and tie he would wear before trading his streetwear for prison garb. He neatly folded the single piece of paper he would later read from into quarters and inserted it into his pants pocket while he waited for his sentencing to begin.
On Jan. 8, two months earlier, he pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
Eight months ago, he was indicted on six counts, including manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree, and vehicular manslaughter, all felonies. He was also charged with three misdemeanors, including DWI and driving while ability impaired by the combination of alcohol and drugs.
The Clifton Park man was accused of “driving at excessive speed, failing to maintain his lane of travel, after having consumed a significant amount of cannabis and alcohol,” according to the June 7 indictment. His blood alcohol content (BAC) was recorded at over 0.08% from a test taken on the day of the crash.
At sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Collin D’Arcy described the incident less clinically. He said what Monthie did was not only senseless and selfish, it was “shameful.” He said Monthie was “hungover” and “probably still drunk” from the night before and made a “selfish and shameless” choice to drive over 106 mph on Route 85. “There is no safe way to drive at 106 mph,” D’Arcy said.
Marzahl’s husband, Dennis Marzahl, while giving his victim impact statement in court, intoned each injury suffered by Shawna that May day. The list was long and gruesome.
“You killed my mother in the most heinous way possible,” said Victoria Calhoun, Marzahl’s daughter, who also gave a victim impact statement in court. She spoke about the “shattered” lives of her family and the nightmares. She added that she hopes Monthie will think about “the horrific murder you caused on May 1.”
Calhoun challenged Monthie to define himself by any prior achievements or accolades. “What matters is the person you were in those hours,” Calhoun said. “Matthew Monthie, you are a failure.”
“This is pain you cannot even begin to imagine,” she told him, “all caused by the shot of liquor you chose to drink.”
“I will not forgive you,” Calhoun told Monthie. “She [Shawna] will miss the best part of her life all because of you. Tell me, was it worth it?”
Dennis Marzahl, no less unwilling to forgive Monthie, echoed the long list of Monthie’s poor choices as a 29-year-old adult. He chastised Monthie for choosing to get drunk, choosing to get high, choosing to get in a car, choosing to speed, and choosing to pass another car on a double solid line lane. Marzahl, who had to pause several times while reading his victim impact statement, blamed Monthie for these “selfish” and “bad” choices.
“As a result of your actions, you took the life of my beautiful wife,” Marzahli said.
Calhoun called her mother the most incredible mother a child could ask for and spoke of Marzahl’s kindness, strength and patience. She proudly talked about how her mother always helped others. Marzahl, Calhoun said, touched so many lives and was appreciated by everyone in her life.
As prescribed by the plea agreement, Albany County Judge William Little sentenced Monthie to three and one-third to 10 years in state prison for the felony manslaughter charge and one year for the DWI misdemeanor charge.
Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon later explained that Monthie will serve a minimum of 3 1/3 years in prison, after which the New York State Department of Corrections can decide whether his case should be considered by the parole board.
The two sentences will be served concurrently. D’Arcy explained that the DWI charge, a misdemeanor, must run concurrently with the felony charge. He said that the DWI charge remains important because it stays on Monthie’s driving record. That means, D’Arcy said, if Monthie does not learn his lesson and drives drunk again, any future DWI charge would be elevated to a felony.
Little also ordered Monthie to pay all mandatory fees associated with both charges. Upon release, Monthie must serve one year of conditional discharge, participate in a victim impact panel, and complete an impaired driving program. After release, his New York state driver’s license will be revoked, and any vehicles he owns or operates must be equipped with an ignition interlock device.
During his victim impact statement, Marzahl made his dissatisfaction with the sentence clear. “It doesn’t seem adequate for a crime of this nature,” he said. He told Monthie, “There is no room in this world for people like you. You deserve to be put away for life.”
He also voiced frustration that Monthie had been free on bail. “The defendant was released on a $50,000 cash bond by his mommy and daddy and he got to go home. I wish I could have gone to the bank and taken out $50,000 and gotten my wife back.”
He said that while Monthie was out on bail enjoying a vacation, he was explaining to his toddler granddaughter why her grandmother would not be at her birthday party.
After the hearing, the district attorney said prosecutors, police officers, and legislators should review sentencing for crimes like this. In the meantime, he assured the public that his office would fully prosecute anyone violating drunk driving laws.
Marzahl concluded his statement by asking Monthie not to say anything if given the opportunity. He asked that he “keep his mouth shut.”
Just prior to sentencing, however, Monthie chose to speak. His counsel, Stephen Coffey of O’Connell & Aronowitz, acknowledged that Monthie’s words might mean nothing to the family but said they held meaning for Monthie himself.
Monthie stood and stated that while he understood there was nothing he could say to reduce the Marzahl family’s pain, he felt “deep remorse” and “profound sorrow” and “accepted responsibility” for what he had done. He said he had spent “countless hours overwhelmed by guilt and regret” and apologized to the family “whose loss is unimaginable.”
Monthie then announced his commitment to seeking amends, although he admitted he could never fully repair what he had done. He asked the court for leniency so he could have the opportunity to dedicate his life to change and become a more responsible member of society.
The court also dismissed Monthie’s appeal for leniency.
“I know you asked the court for leniency and grace, but leniency and grace is more than you’re getting with this sentence,” Little told him. He added that when Monthie decided to drive 106 mph, the person in the other car had no opportunity to ask for that grace.
“In each step that you made, you understood the risk that it could cause a death. This was absolutely preventable,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the steps you took ruined an entire family.” Little added that those decisions ruined Monthie’s own family as well. “You’re going to have a lot of time to think about this,” he said.
Monthie, who had been free on $50,000 bail, was handcuffed and walked out of the courtroom at 10:48 a.m. to begin serving his prison sentence.
Kindlon called upon the public to recognize the impact of drunk driving on victims, the community, and even defendants’ families. “This day is a reminder of that,” Kindlon said.
“This is a terrible event,” said Coffey. “Matthew Monthie will live with this for the rest of his life, as he should.”
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