The family of a 6-year-old child who was murdered by a drunk driver in Shelton says they are finally receiving justice after two and a half years. The convicted drunk driver received a 21-year prison sentence.
At Tuesday’s sentencing for 40-year-old Matthew Galvin, the family of Taelor Valencia, who died in the collision, was present at the Mason County Courthouse.
Galvin had already entered a guilty plea to one count of both vehicular assault and vehicular murder.
According to court documents, Galvin over the line in the road and collided with Akasha Garner’s automobile in July 2022 while she was returning home from a camping trip with her three kids.
His blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit by more than double.
According to Garner, the crash occurred just a few miles from their home. Garner’s youngest child, six-year-old Taelor, died, and two of her children suffered severe, potentially fatal injuries.
Garner remarked, “She had a whole life ahead of her,”
According to Garner, it has taken too long to hold the intoxicated motorist accountable.
She remarked, “He didn’t just take my baby,” “He ruined all of our lives.”
Galvin’s sentencing has been delayed, among other delays in the legal process, she claimed. According to Garner, they had previously arrived for a sentencing date only to learn that it was being rescheduled.
“It’s just disgusting,” Garner remarked. “The justice system is not what it should be.”
This, according to the prosecution, was because the defense intended to ask for a mental health sentencing option.
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Speaking to the court on Tuesday, Garner and other of Taelor’s family members recalled her, demanded accountability, and demanded that Galvin be imprisoned.
Galvin expressed his regret to the family, stating that he never intended to do harm to anyone, particularly a child.
Because of Galvin’s previous past and the seriousness of the conduct, the court dismissed the request for a sentencing option and sentenced him to 21 years in prison, even though he said he thought his regret was genuine.
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Even though Taelor’s family would never be able to bring him back, Garner said that this sentence will help them begin the healing process.
“I don’t think there’s any amount of time that would have been enough justice,” Garner stated. “But I’m glad that it’s finally something that we can try to put behind us and I’m just glad it’s over.”
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