KINGMAN – A year and two days after the tragic deaths of two Kingman teenagers and serious injuries of two others in a high speed traffic accident, Brady Shuffler was arrested and jailed following an all-day sentencing hearing at the Mohave County Law & Justice Center Monday.
The 17-year-old was escorted by detention officers shortly after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Nicholls imposed an 18-year prison sentence. It was the maximum punishment possible under terms of a plea agreement convicting Shuffler of two counts of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault.
The emotionally exhausting hearing opened at 8:45 a.m. There were four recesses and a lunch break, and the proceeding was mercifully gaveled to its end at 5:40 p.m.
Tears flowed freely over those hours as members of a shattered community shared overwhelming grief and anguish.
Lives lost. Bright futures ended. Lifelong suffering. The court digested it all, including the defendant’s brief apology.
“I’m sorry to all the families for all of the pain and suffering,” Shuffler said, unable to speak further.
The hearing was punctuated by testimony that Shuffler was speeding at 127 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone just seconds before he lost control of his 2020 Dodge Charger that rolled and struck two utility poles, ejecting all four passengers in the desert near the Louise Avenue and Sage St. intersection. Shuffler, Cannon Cobanovich and Reilly Feil survived serious injuries in an accident that claimed the lives of Sherene “Siri” Walema, 15, and Tatum Meins, 17.
Heart wrenching desperation was reflected in the voice of a teenager as her 911 accident call to police dispatch was played in open court. And Shuffler could be heard at the accident site through a body camera worn by a Kingman police officer.
“I’m (expletive) stupid,” Shuffler said, while still pinned at a crash scene that was described as complete chaos. “I hate myself”.
Defense experts testified that Shuffler suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is battling memory and learning disability. Learning coach Kelley Parsons testified she was favorably impressed by Shuffler as she tried to help him focus and cope after the crash.
“Brady will be the student I’ll remember forever,” Parsons offered the court before personally addressing the defendant. “It’s been my true pleasure to get to know you … You are a wonderful young man, despite what you’re facing … You have amazing things in your future.”
Tatum’s father Joey Meins, a Kingman Fire Department veteran, like many others, struggled to maintain composure when addressing Judge Nicholls.
“I’m shattered. I’m broken,” Meins sobbed. “I will never get over this. The bond that I had with Tatum … She was my little girl, my heart and soul.”
Siri’s grandmother said her grief ebbs and flows but will never go away. She told Judge Nicholls that the families of the dead children have bonded for all of the wrong reasons.
“Now we’re just in survival mode,” she said.
Like their son, Shufflers’ parents also apologized to the families of the dead and injured children.
The only smiles noted in the gallery occurred during video tributes played separately in honor of Tatum and Siri. Judge Nicholls watched intently before taking a final recess and returning to impose sentence.
“You’re all probably waiting for some magic words from me to make it all better. I’m sorry to tell you that I cannot give that to you today. There is nothing I can say, do or order that is going to take all of your pain away. The entire community of Kingman has suffered,” Judge Nicholls said.
“You’re all victims. Unfortunately, that day there were five children that lost their lives. The defendant has lost his life as he knew it, at his own hands. Reilly and Cannon lost their lives as they know it and now they have to figure out who they are and Tatum and Siri lost in the worst way imaginable.”
Judge Nicholls said Shuffler’s decisions were poor and his speed egregious. She noted concern about evidence that Shuffler tried to obtain marijuana and engaged in drinking in violation of court order while on pre-trial release supervision.
“In your letter you said you were charged as an adult but you don’t feel like an adult,” Judge Nicholls told Shuffler. “I can appreciate that, but you made adult decisions on April 13 of last year that have adult consequences.”
Glimpses of healing came through testimony of some victim family members who noted they must forgive Shuffler as part of their recovery process.
Dave Hawkins