Overland Park 18-year-old sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for drunken driving death
An Overland Park 18-year-old was sentenced to more than five years in prison Thursday for a drunken-driving accident that killed a man standing next to a parked vehicle last year.
Conner Estrella had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 66 months in prison as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Estrella was driving under the influence of alcohol when Kevin Patrick Moroney, 52, was killed in the 8400 block of Tomahawk Road, according to court documents filed in the case. Estrella also pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for injuring Maureen Hogg, who was standing with Moroney at the time of the Aug. 7, 2014, incident.
Moroney’s mother and four adult children said they approved of the plea agreement and sentencing. Moroney’s 32-year-old son, Brent, said he was less concerned with the number of years Estrella spent in prison than the possibility that others might learn from the story, preventing other drunken-driving deaths.
“It’s very sad, and it’s even more sad that this is a very common situation that I’m in,” Brent Moroney said. Of the sentencing, he said, “I hope it is severe enough to send a message to other people.”
Brent Moroney told the court how he learned of his father’s death, waking up early in the morning with his sleeping 9-month-old daughter in a Philadelphia hotel to find several missed calls on his cellphone. He told of calling his frantic grandmother and of the police officer who came on the phone to explain what had happened, and the long trip home to make funeral arrangements with his sister and two brothers.
For months, those at the family home could still see the marks the accident left behind and blood in the street.
“Everyone involved wishes this didn’t happen,” Brent Moroney said. “But it did. And I don’t really feel like there’s a silver lining in this.”
Before sentencing, Estrella apologized.
“I have taken the life of someone who was loved by so many,” he said. “It hurts me every day. I really, truly, want you to know that I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done.”
Estrella remained at the Johnson County jail Thursday and will have 337 days in custody credited against his sentence. Johnson County District Court Judge Charles Droege said Estrella will be eligible for a “good time” sentence reduction up to 15 percent, as is standard in such cases.
Estrella is also liable for more than $33,000 in restitution.
To reach Ian Cummings, call 816-234-4633 or send email to icummings@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Overland Park 18-year-old sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for drunken driving death."