Man charged in killing of 2 in high-speed drunken crash sentenced to 7 years
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An Orono man who pleaded guilty to killing two people in a high-speed, drunken-driving crash last summer learned his fate Thursday.
Fifty-two-year-old James David Blue entered a guilty plea to two charges of criminal vehicular homicide (operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration 0.08 or more) last month.
RELATED: James Blue pleads guilty in high-speed drunken crash that killed 2
Thursday, Judge Regina Chu sentenced Blue to seven-and-a-half years (90 months) in prison — 42 months on one count and 48 months on the other — in line with what prosecutors recommended.
Addressing the court before his sentence was handed down, Blue said, “I just want to state how sorry I am for putting you into the dire situation. I would never ever forgive me, if I was you … I don’t deserve that, and I understand that. I’ve taken both your son’s lives and so much more from all friends and family. They will suffer for such a long time.”
Judge Chu said she believed Blue had taken responsibility for his actions since the crash. She also mentioned how the victims’ loved ones chose not to speak in court, but rather wrote 20 letters to help guide her decision.
James Blue (Hennepin County Jail)
“They were kind, caring, hardworking, and true role models for those fortunate enough to have known them,” Judge Chu said from the bench, adding, “the joy and happiness that your sons brought to so many lives will not will not be forgotten.”
The crash, which happened on July 24, 2021, in Orono, killed 20-year-old Mack Motzko and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman.
The families of Motzko and Schuneman released the following statement following Blue’s sentencing:
“While today’s outcome cannot compare to the life sentence our two families have been given with the loss of our beloved sons, Mack and Sam, we hope it sends a clear and strong message that there are serious consequences for drunk driving and those that drive while impaired will be held accountable. We express our thanks to the Court for the professional and compassionate manner in which it has handled this horrific and senseless tragedy. We will be making no further statements at this time and ask for privacy as we continue to process and grieve the loss of Mack and Sam.”
Families of Mack Motzko and Sam Schuneman, through their attorneys
Prosecutors dropped two counts of third-degree murder and two separate charges of criminal vehicular homicide as part of a plea deal.
According to a criminal complaint, officers from the Orono Police Department responded to a crash near the 3100 block of North Shore Drive on July 24. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle going 100 mph before it crashed.
Inside the crashed car, officers found Schuneman — who was pronounced dead at the scene — and Motzko — who died at a hospital soon after. Motzko is the son of Gophers men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko.
Blue, 51, was found ejected from the car and was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
Hospital staff found gummies containing THC — the intoxicating chemical in cannabis — as well as crushed white pills and five green capsules. Witnesses from the party told officers that Blue had been taking shots of liquor and had consumed THC edibles, according to the complaint.
Officers were granted a search warrant to draw Blue’s blood and have toxicologists at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension analyze it, the complaint states. The BCA later determined Blue’s blood-alcohol level was .175 — twice the legal limit.
Thursday’s sentencing hearing with Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. but was delayed slightly as a result of technical issues.