YouTube Drunk Driving Confessor to Enter a Plea, Lawyer Says

The Ohio man who confessed in a YouTube video to hitting and killing another man in a drunk driving wreck plans to plead guilty to a felony homicide charge, his lawyer said.

Matthew Cordle is due in court Tuesday after confessing in a YouTube video to driving drunk and killing a man. (Image via YouTube)

Matthew Cordle was indicted Monday on a felony charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. George Breitmayer, Cordle's attorney, told USA Today he will be arraigned Tuesday and first must plead not guilty because of technical reasons, but then will change his plea to guilty. Cordle was also indicted on a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22nd, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani,” Cordle said in the video, which has garnered more than 1.7 million views since it was uploaded Sept. 3. “This video will act as my confession.”

Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien said Cordle's blood-alcohol level was 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit, according to USA Today. Cordle's blood tested negative for drugs.

In the video, Cordle vowed to take responsibility for his actions.

“When I get charged I’ll plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I’ve done to Vincent and his family,” he said.

O'Brien told USA Today the charges could carry a prison sentence of up to 8 1/2 years and, while he was impressed by Cordle's video, said he would be seeking the maximum penalty.

"When I viewed the video the first time -- and I would say every time since -- I found it to be a very compelling video that seemed to sincerely express genuine remorse," O'Brien told USA Today.

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