Editor's note: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information.
MONROE - For causing a crash that killed a 10-year-old boy, Trevor McGuire will serve two fewer years in prison than the child was alive.
McGuire, 22, Madison, will serve eight years incarcerated in state prison and 10 years of probation from his sentencing on Tuesday in Green County Circuit Court for charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
McGuire drunkenly caused a vehicle crash that claimed the life of Michael Iverson, Stoughton, on Oct. 7, 2013.
Several people gave impact statements to the court, including six members of the victims' family and three for McGuire. While Michael Iverson's aunt Danielle Reynolds spoke of the tragedy, she held up Michael Iverson's school photo with a blue background and a smiling Michael wearing a checkered shirt. Michael Iverson's grandmother Mary Jo Iverson said the young boy was never sparing with his affection and gave out lots of hugs to his family.
McGuire remained stoic during the first few statements, but when Michael Iverson's immediate family stepped up, tears streamed down his face.
Michael Iverson's mother Deanna, his brother Myles, his sister Hannah and his father Matthew lined up and kept their heads bowed while Deanna addressed McGuire.
"You took him from me and it was 100 percent preventable," Deanna Iverson said. "I do not hate you, but I do not forgive you for this. ... I hope you know this is unforgivable."
Matthew Iverson also delivered a statement and tried to hold back the tears but was unable to. Speaking to McGuire, Matthew Iverson explained the death of his son "literally and figuratively turned my world upside down."
"I hope you understand my pain on a day-to-day basis and never forget it," he said.
Shortly after McGuire was released from jail, he started receiving treatment for substance abuse at Manitoba House and Cedar Creek Family Counseling and proceeded to do so throughout the court proceedings. One of his counselors, John Luznicky, said McGuire never shifted blame away from himself for causing the accident. Luznicky said McGuire refers to Michael and Matthew Iverson by their first names when he tells his story in counseling to show that he is "owning" all the blame.
"He carries a good message and he would be a good person to speak publicly about the impact of drunk driving," Luznicky said.
McGuire's mother Tammy McGuire also gave emotional testimony and said her son had always been talkative and affectionate.
"He would kiss me goodbye every day before school, and well, shortly after he turned 12 he would still kiss me goodbye, but we had to do it a block away so his friends wouldn't see," Tammy McGuire said.
Trevor McGuire also spoke and expressed many apologies to the Iverson family individually. He turned his chair away from the judge and addressed the Iverson family directly, and none of them looked at him while he read his statement.
"I drove with a bottle in hand, and an innocent paid the price for that," McGuire said. "I took from you your son, your brother, your nephew, a human being."
McGuire apologized many times, his voice only quavering slightly.
"I can't imagine the pain and sorrow I caused your family when I invaded your life so recklessly," he said. "I apologize for every future moment you were owed with Michael."
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kohl asked for a sentence of 14 years in prison and 14 years on probation. McGuire's attorney Sarah Schmeiser argued for a sentence of four years in prison with 12 years on probation to follow. Judge Thomas Vale opted to sentence McGuire to eight years imprisonment with 10 years of probation with additional conditions that once out of prison he maintain full-time employment, have no contact with the Iverson family, maintain absolute sobriety, undergo a mental health evaluation, attend one victim impact panel per year and undergo alcohol and other drug assessment counseling.
Deanna Iverson began weeping uncontrollably when Vale passed down the sentence.
Vale explained the reason he gave McGuire a "moderate" sentence, which could have been for a maximum confinement of 22 1/2 years, was that McGuire appeared to feel remorseful for the death he caused.
"You are not the whipping boy for every drunk driving offense that comes through," Vale said. "At least in the short-term, you seem to show the intent to change. ... But you may not fully understand the pain you caused until you have a child of your own."
The criminal complaint depicts a gruesome scene at the accident in the afternoon of Oct. 7, 2013. McGuire's 1998 red GMC truck was speeding down Wisconsin 59 at Broughton Road and crashed head-long into a minivan driven by Matthew Iverson. Michael Iverson's siblings, ages 7 and 13 at the time, survived the crash with minor injuries. Matthew Iverson had extensive injuries including a fractured pelvis, back, elbow, cheek bone and broken ribs.
The county coroner determined Michael Iverson died from multiple traumatic injuries, including brain injuries and lacerations to his internal organs.
According to the victims who read statements Tuesday, it was Hannah Iverson, Michael's sister, who had to check her brother's pulse and then call 911 because her father had such severe injuries.
Multiple witnesses saw McGuire speeding and recklessly passing other vehicles before he lost control in a curve and crossed into oncoming traffic into the Iverson's minivan.
McGuire sustained non-life-threatening injuries and his passenger, Michael G.V. Ladwig, 24, Monroe, had minor injuries but declined treatment.
A deputy wrote in his report that Ladwig smelled of alcohol, and that Ladwig told the deputy that McGuire and he had been drinking vodka all morning at a warehouse in Albany. Deputies found an opened bottle of tequila on the floor of McGuire's pickup.
The two men were preparing to move furniture to their new apartment in Monroe. The Iversons were on their way home from a volleyball game in Monroe.
MONROE - For causing a crash that killed a 10-year-old boy, Trevor McGuire will serve two fewer years in prison than the child was alive.
McGuire, 22, Madison, will serve eight years incarcerated in state prison and 10 years of probation from his sentencing on Tuesday in Green County Circuit Court for charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
McGuire drunkenly caused a vehicle crash that claimed the life of Michael Iverson, Stoughton, on Oct. 7, 2013.
Several people gave impact statements to the court, including six members of the victims' family and three for McGuire. While Michael Iverson's aunt Danielle Reynolds spoke of the tragedy, she held up Michael Iverson's school photo with a blue background and a smiling Michael wearing a checkered shirt. Michael Iverson's grandmother Mary Jo Iverson said the young boy was never sparing with his affection and gave out lots of hugs to his family.
McGuire remained stoic during the first few statements, but when Michael Iverson's immediate family stepped up, tears streamed down his face.
Michael Iverson's mother Deanna, his brother Myles, his sister Hannah and his father Matthew lined up and kept their heads bowed while Deanna addressed McGuire.
"You took him from me and it was 100 percent preventable," Deanna Iverson said. "I do not hate you, but I do not forgive you for this. ... I hope you know this is unforgivable."
Matthew Iverson also delivered a statement and tried to hold back the tears but was unable to. Speaking to McGuire, Matthew Iverson explained the death of his son "literally and figuratively turned my world upside down."
"I hope you understand my pain on a day-to-day basis and never forget it," he said.
Shortly after McGuire was released from jail, he started receiving treatment for substance abuse at Manitoba House and Cedar Creek Family Counseling and proceeded to do so throughout the court proceedings. One of his counselors, John Luznicky, said McGuire never shifted blame away from himself for causing the accident. Luznicky said McGuire refers to Michael and Matthew Iverson by their first names when he tells his story in counseling to show that he is "owning" all the blame.
"He carries a good message and he would be a good person to speak publicly about the impact of drunk driving," Luznicky said.
McGuire's mother Tammy McGuire also gave emotional testimony and said her son had always been talkative and affectionate.
"He would kiss me goodbye every day before school, and well, shortly after he turned 12 he would still kiss me goodbye, but we had to do it a block away so his friends wouldn't see," Tammy McGuire said.
Trevor McGuire also spoke and expressed many apologies to the Iverson family individually. He turned his chair away from the judge and addressed the Iverson family directly, and none of them looked at him while he read his statement.
"I drove with a bottle in hand, and an innocent paid the price for that," McGuire said. "I took from you your son, your brother, your nephew, a human being."
McGuire apologized many times, his voice only quavering slightly.
"I can't imagine the pain and sorrow I caused your family when I invaded your life so recklessly," he said. "I apologize for every future moment you were owed with Michael."
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kohl asked for a sentence of 14 years in prison and 14 years on probation. McGuire's attorney Sarah Schmeiser argued for a sentence of four years in prison with 12 years on probation to follow. Judge Thomas Vale opted to sentence McGuire to eight years imprisonment with 10 years of probation with additional conditions that once out of prison he maintain full-time employment, have no contact with the Iverson family, maintain absolute sobriety, undergo a mental health evaluation, attend one victim impact panel per year and undergo alcohol and other drug assessment counseling.
Deanna Iverson began weeping uncontrollably when Vale passed down the sentence.
Vale explained the reason he gave McGuire a "moderate" sentence, which could have been for a maximum confinement of 22 1/2 years, was that McGuire appeared to feel remorseful for the death he caused.
"You are not the whipping boy for every drunk driving offense that comes through," Vale said. "At least in the short-term, you seem to show the intent to change. ... But you may not fully understand the pain you caused until you have a child of your own."
The criminal complaint depicts a gruesome scene at the accident in the afternoon of Oct. 7, 2013. McGuire's 1998 red GMC truck was speeding down Wisconsin 59 at Broughton Road and crashed head-long into a minivan driven by Matthew Iverson. Michael Iverson's siblings, ages 7 and 13 at the time, survived the crash with minor injuries. Matthew Iverson had extensive injuries including a fractured pelvis, back, elbow, cheek bone and broken ribs.
The county coroner determined Michael Iverson died from multiple traumatic injuries, including brain injuries and lacerations to his internal organs.
According to the victims who read statements Tuesday, it was Hannah Iverson, Michael's sister, who had to check her brother's pulse and then call 911 because her father had such severe injuries.
Multiple witnesses saw McGuire speeding and recklessly passing other vehicles before he lost control in a curve and crossed into oncoming traffic into the Iverson's minivan.
McGuire sustained non-life-threatening injuries and his passenger, Michael G.V. Ladwig, 24, Monroe, had minor injuries but declined treatment.
A deputy wrote in his report that Ladwig smelled of alcohol, and that Ladwig told the deputy that McGuire and he had been drinking vodka all morning at a warehouse in Albany. Deputies found an opened bottle of tequila on the floor of McGuire's pickup.
The two men were preparing to move furniture to their new apartment in Monroe. The Iversons were on their way home from a volleyball game in Monroe.