FORT EDWARD, N.Y. — Convicted murderer Kevin Monahan was sentenced to 25 years-to-life in Washington County Court Friday March 1. He also will serve a concurrent sentence of two-and-a-third to seven years for reckless endangerment, and finally, a consecutive sentence, meaning it is added to the murder sentence, of one-and-a-third to four years for tampering with evidence, bringing the total to 26 and-one-third years to life.
Monahan was convicted on those three counts in January for killing 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis when she and her friends lost their way in Washington County and drove up Monahan’s driveway by mistake, turning around shortly thereafter. After Gillis was shot, the friends in the car raced to find cell phone service to call an ambulance.
Sending A Message To Society
Judge Adam Michelini said he thinks about general deterrence when deciding on a sentence and at direct deterrence.
The general deterrence “is sending a message to society at large,” letting people know that they cannot shoot people for driving down the wrong driveway. He said that people often get lost and use driveways to turn around in Washington County.
‘You Just Don’t Get It’
In deciding on the maximum penalty, the judge said he looked to Monahan’s testimony and actions and answers as a witness in his own prosecution.
The judge said that murderers usually do not commit murder after release from prison, “With you, I think you really could do the same thing again,” the judge said during sentencing. “You just don’t get it.”
The judge said that Monahan was in control of himself and his mental state and that he had made a choice to act the way he did.
“The choice you made in this case is absolutely not acceptable,” Judge Michelini said. “You need to be prevented from doing things in the future.”
The judge cited a joke Monahan made to the jury about them being able to see his face and that he planned to finish work on his house and enter motocross races in the future. He said this even as his attorney was trying to get Monahan to admit that his house was not under threat or attack, but Monahan could not even admit that much, the judge said. (Part of Monahan’s defense was that he had a faulty weapon that discharged when he stumbled.)
“You repeatedly lied through such a cold and calculating manner,” the judge said.
“Will Traumatize and Scar”
The judge said Monahan took away a friend and a daughter and did not seem to have true remorse.
“You murdered Caitlin Gillis and shot at a car full of people,” the judge said. “This will traumatize and scar them for the rest of their lives.”
First Assistant District Attorney Christian Morris agreed with Michelini and said the survivors of that night all now are living their lives in fear. He cited witness testimony from Katherine Rondeau saying she feels like the case is her fault. She testified that she was the one to get her friends lost looking for a party. Morris says this is proof of the trauma they will continue to live with.
“There was innocence taken away from these kids,” Morris said. “The joys of life are now filled with sorrow.”
‘He’s A Liar’
Morris said he is often asked why Monahan chose to shoot; he said it was execution of his judgment that led to Gillis losing her life in the passenger’s seat of her boyfriend Blake Walsh’s ford Explorer.
“He’s a liar. He lied to the police that night,” Morris said. “Kevin Monahan was merciless that night when he executed his judgment.”
Defense attorney Arthur Frost said the ruling impacts more than just the Gillis family and that the Monahan’s family is also permanently being changed by the judge’s decision.
“There was never going to be a happy ending with this trial,’ Frost said.
Cheers of “Bye Kevin!” and “Justice served!” were heard when Monahan was remanded to Washington County Jail and later to the New York State Department of Corrections.
The story made national news about use of force and gun violence after another young man was shot and killed for knocking on the wrong door in Kansas City. Monahan became known as “the driveway shooter.”
He plans an appeal.