Kevin Monahan, who was convicted of shooting and killing a 20-year-old woman who was riding in an SUV that mistakenly turned into her driveway in rural upstate New York, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Friday.
He was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Kaylin Gillis last April.
The young woman was riding in a caravan that included two cars and a motorcycle that mistakenly pulled into Monahan's driveway while looking for a party at another individual's house.
"I think it's important for people to know that it's not OK to shoot people and have them killed for turning down your driveway," Judge Adam Michelini said.
Apart from the wider deterrent effect, Michelini said it's important that Monahan remain behind bars rather than be free to harm more people.
"You Deserve To Spend The Maximum Time In Prison Allowable Under The Law"
Judge Micheilini added four additional years to Monahan's sentence for tampering with the murder weapon and scolded him for showing no remorse.
"You murdered Kaylin Gillis. You shot at a car full of people and you didn't care what would happen and you repeatedly lied about it. You deserve to spend the maximum time in prison allowable under the law," the judge said.
Monahan declined to speak in his own defense and was led away in handcuff to applause from onlookers.
On the night in question, the group of friends realized their error after Monahan fired his first shot and turned around, his second shot struck Gillis in the neck as she sat in the front passenger seat of an SUV.
The defendant claimed that the fatal shot was by accident and that his weapon, a shotgun, was defective. He believed his house was under attack from intruders and came out to fire a warning shot to scare the group away while his wife hid inside.
Prosecutors argued that Monahan was motivated by an irrational rage toward trespassers.
In January, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning with guilty verdicts against Monahan for murder, reckless endangerment, and tampering with physical evidence.
