Gallia County Prosecuting Attorney, Jason D. Holdren, announces that Matthew S. Preston, age 38, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was sentenced today following his conviction of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a felony of the second degree, in the Gallia County Common Pleas Court. Preston was sentenced by Judge Margaret Evans to 8 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed by Ohio law, and received a lifetime driver’s license suspension.
“Although the Court ordered the maximum sentence in this case, it is very clear that a possible prison term of 2-8 years does not fit the crime,” stated Holdren. “Throughout this case I have communicated with our state legislators about enhancing the penalty for this crime, and will continue to do so.” At the time of the incident, Preston had 9 different substances in his system, including: heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, and fentanyl.
Holdren thanked Post Commander Lt. Barry Call and troopers of the Gallipolis Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their handling of this investigation which resulted in a successful prosecution.
