Aurora man sentenced to at least 15 years for killing couple in crash with motorcycle
While the members of three families watched, an Aurora man found out Tuesday morning how long he would spend in prison for fatally injuring two people on a motorcycle in a crash in Aurora this past April.
Judge Laurie Pittman sentenced Nicholas A. Monachino, 27, in Portage County Court of Common Pleas to 15 to 21 years in prison for causing the deaths of Ryan J. Tucholsky, 29, and Sara R. Tartaglio, 40, both of Aurora. Pittman also suspended Monachino's driver's license for life.
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Monachino could have been sentenced to as much as 19 to 27 years in prison, according to court records.
"Look around this room. Two very nice families," Pittman told Monachino. "And it was your choice, not your mistake, your choice to drive under the influence."
During the hearing, which lasted more than 90 minutes, members of Tucholsky's and Tartaglio's families nearly filled the courtroom's gallery while Monachino's family sat in the jury box.
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The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Ravenna Post said it received a call to respond to state Route 82 at Cochran Road in Aurora at 6:52 p.m. April 29 after an eastbound 2016 Infiniti Q50 driven by Monachino struck the rear of an eastbound 2007 Yamaha motorcycle.
Tucholsky, the motorcycle's driver, and Tartaglio, the passenger, were both thrown from the motorcycle and landed in a ditch. Tartaglio was taken to UH Twinsburg Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash. Tucholsky was flown by helicopter to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he died on May 3.
Tucholsky and Tartaglio were wearing helmets, the Highway Patrol said. However, Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski said Monachino's car was traveling as fast as 114 mph before the crash and the force of the impact was great enough to knock Tartaglio's helmet off her head.
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Monachino drove away from the scene, but other motorists who witnessed the crash followed him to his Pioneer Trail home and notified Aurora police, according to a Highway Patrol crash report. No injuries were reported to Monachino and he was taken to the Portage County Jail, said the Highway Patrol.
The report said a blood alcohol content test determined that Monachino's BAC was 0.175%, more than twice the 0.08% legal limit, and there was evidence of spilled alcohol in the vehicle. Lewandowski said the blood sample that was tested was taken four hours after the crash.
She said testing also indicated the presence of cocaine and THC, but it was unclear "whether he did the cocaine and the marijuana moments before the crash or if it was in his system the night before.
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Family of victims in courtroom
While he and Monachino faced the families of Tucholsky and Tartaglio, defense attorney Patrick Quinn expressed sympathy for them.
"As I sit in this courtroom today, all I feel and see is tragedy, overwhelming pain and suffering on both sides of the fence," said Quinn. "Nobody's a winner here."
Quinn acknowledged that Monachino was responsible for their loss, but said he was brought up with good values, had not gotten into trouble previously, and is well-regarded by those who know him. But Monachino for years had a mental health condition, only diagnosed since the crash as bipolar depression, said Quinn. He said that Monachino "self-medicated" with alcohol when various prescription medications stopped working.
"Unfortunately, Nick has some demons he was dealing with," said Quinn.
Lewandowski said Tartaglio was "fun and enthusiastic" and "loved her family in a huge way" and was "captivated" by her sons, Jack and Vincent. She described Tucholsky as gentle, kind, authentic and generous, saying he loved his family, nature and animals. She said the couple had a "profound love for each other."
"This is just a small glimpse of the remarkable people Nicholas Monachino took on that fateful day," said Lewandowski.
Officer let Monachino go with a warning before the crash
She said that less than 30 minutes before the crash, a Walton Hills police officer confronted Monachino at a Northfield Road service station after seeing him driving recklessly, but apparently missed any signs that Monachino was impaired, let him go with a warning 12 minutes before the crash.
"The most devastating part of this whole case, your honor, is that this all could have been avoided," said Lewandowski.
Dash- and body-camera video was then shown. The officer can be heard criticizing Monachino for his driving, then telling other officers who arrived that he saw Monachino nearly strike another vehicle and estimated Monachino was traveling at least 60 mph in a 35 mph zone. The officer then gave Monachino a warning. He told Monachino to "just be patient."
"I don't want to see you get into a crash," the officer said to Monachino.
Walton Hills Police Chief Stan Jaworski said Tuesday that the officer, who had worked part time for the department, resigned on July 25. He said the stop at the service station and the subsequent crash "probably played a part" in the officer's resignation.
"After the incident, he was upset about it," said Jaworski, who declined to comment further.
Body-camera video was also shown of Monachino's arrest by Aurora police after he crashed his car into a ditch near his driveway. Monachino showed hostility, repeatedly asking why he was being detained. Later in the hearing, Monachino said he had not even realized he had hit anyone.
"The defendant's criminal conduct is so severe that maximum sentences are appropriate," said Lewandowski.
Family members share impact of loss
Often overwhelmed with emotion, family members then spoke.
"How does losing Ryan impact us?" said Diane New, Tucholsky's mother. "It doesn't. It shatters us … Sara was his reason for living. The best thing that ever happened to him, and we lost her, too. Sara and her boys were his family, and he was so proud of that."
New said her son was about to propose to Tartaglio and he was business partners with New's husband in a company they were building together. She spoke about the end of his life.
"I got to hold Ryan's hand for three days," she said. "On the third day, we took the longest walk of our lives to surgery to disconnect his life support."
Jack Tartaglio called his mother "my hero."
"She would do anything for me and Vincent," he said. "She would make any sacrifice that she needed to make and she would support me … She was my best friend."
He said he was getting to know Tucholsky and they were developing a good relationship.
"I wish we would have had that time to spend with Ryan to really get to know him, to have him a big part of my life," he said.
Brent Monachino, Nicholas Monachino's father, said he was sorry to Tartaglio and Tucholsky's families, especially to her sons.
"I'm truly sorry for the loss of your mom," he said. "I'm hoping that with Nicholas accepting responsibility, this will help provide closure for both families to heal. Our family continues to pray for the families of Sara and Ryan."
He said he hopes his son receives the help he needs to deal with his issues.
"Your honor, please have mercy on Nicholas and give him a fair sentence so that he can live a productive life once he gets out," said Monachino.
Monachino apologizes to families of victims
Nicholas Monachino was the last to speak before Pittman passed sentence. He said he had long had problems, but until April 29, he had kept them to himself.
"Not a second goes by when I don't wish I could have switched places with these two people and give them back to their families," he said.
Monachino said that while in prison, he wants to work toward becoming a licensed chemical dependency counselor and he thanked Pittman for letting him attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while he has been in Portage County Jail.
"I'm going through the 12 steps. I have a sponsor," he said.
He apologized to the two families for causing the deaths of their loved ones.
"I know nothing I can say will fix that," he said. "I just need you to know from the bottom of my heart that I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone."
Monachino pleaded guilty in August to two counts of second-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide, as well as single counts of third-degree felony failure to stop after an accident and first-degree misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. As part of a plea deal, additional charges in a grand jury indictment were dismissed.
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Aurora man sentenced to at least 15 years for killing couple in crash
