FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Chapman
Phone: (904) 255-3004
Cell: (904) 524-6626
ChapmanD@coj.net
July 14, 2023
MOTLEY SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR DUI MANSLAUGHTER OF MEGAN MOONEY
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces the Honorable Jonathan Sacks sentenced Michael Motley to 12 years and four months in Florida State Prison for DUI Manslaughter, a crime that killed 22-year-old Megan Mooney. Motley’s driver license is also permanently suspended.
Just before 3 a.m. July 31, 2021, officers with Florida Highway Patrol responded a crash on U.S. 1 and State Road 9B. Motley was driving northbound on U.S. 1 in the center lane. Mooney was driving westbound in the inside left turn lane on the exit ramp from State Road 9B. The investigation found that Motley failed to stop at a red light and hit Mooney’s car while she was turning left in the intersection. Motley also hit another vehicle turning left in which the passenger sustained injuries. Mooney was taken to Mayo Clinic where she was pronounced deceased. First responders also transported Motley to the hospital for his injuries. Medical staff drew blood from Motley that revealed he had a blood alcohol level of .17, more than double the legal limit to drive. An Electronic Data Recorder analyzed the crash and found Motley was traveling around 90 mph before he hit Mooney’s car. The speed limit in that area is 45 mph.
Carrie and John Mooney — Megan’s mother and father — spoke before sentencing, along with 12 other family and friends. “A part of me died that morning and has forever changed the person that I am,” John Mooney said to Judge Sacks and the court. “There is not an hour that goes by during the day that I don’t think about Megan and wish that I had one more chance to hug her and tell her how much I love her.”
The case was investigated by Florida Highway Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney John Kalinowski.