Matthew Gibbs 'was loved and brought laughter' (2025)

If Matthew Gibbs were alive today, he probably would not condemn the man driving the pickup that killed him as he walked to work on Dec. 29, 2023.

That's what Candice Gibbs told Collin Guthals on Monday in Clovis' 9th Judicial District Court.

"In some way, he would also forgive you. That was how sweet, compassionate and loving he was," she said.

But Candice Gibbs, Matthew's stepmother, also told Guthals those grieving Matthew's death are living a nightmare. "There must be punishment for ... what you've done to our family."

District Judge Ben Cross sentenced Guthals to four years in prison and one year probation for leaving the scene of the crash that killed Gibbs. That was part of the plea agreement reached between prosecutors and Guthals' defense attorney.

Guthals, 30, was initially charged with tampering with evidence, leaving the scene and driving while his license was suspended, court records show. If he'd gone to trial with those charges, coupled with prior felony convictions and a probation period he'd not yet completed, Guthals had faced up 11 years and 90 days in prison, Cross told the court.

More than a dozen of Gibbs' family members were in court for Guthals' sentencing, many of them not happy with the plea deal.

Andrea Hodes, who spoke to the court via telephone, is Matthew's biological mother.

"Collin caused great pain in my family," she said. "Collin has made a mockery of the court – four years and probation. You all look incompetent."

But Assistant District Attorney Anthony Jaimes told the court there has been considerable "misinformation" about the case and the plea was fair.

Unsubstantiated allegations that Guthals was driving under the influence and dragged Gibbs' body off the road after hitting him were not supported by evidence, Jaimes said. "If there was, there'd be different charges," he said.

Court records show Gibbs, 24, was walking to his job at a Clovis Allsup's a little before 11 p.m. when he was struck by a pickup driven by Guthals.

Guthals said he knew he collided with something near the intersection of 14th and Sycamore. But he returned to the scene three times that night and was unable to find what he'd hit.

Guthals said he learned of Gibbs' death on social media two days after the accident, and he was arrested three days after that. He said he didn't report the incident to police until after his arrest because he was scared, court records show.

Authorities believe that more than two hours after Gibbs was struck, a passing motorist saw him lying in a field and called police. Rescue workers rushed him to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis but he did not survive.

Guthals, dressed in a dark blue dress shirt, addressed the victim's family in a three-minute prepared statement during Monday's court hearing.

"There are no words that can fully capture the remorse I carry in my heart," he said.

"I write this letter in hopes that I may express just a fraction of remorse I feel for the tragic accident that took the life of Matthew Gibbs. ... Please know that not one day passes that I don't think about Matthew and the pain that my actions have caused you.

"I know that my history cannot be erased or the things I've done undone. ... I recognize that forgiveness may never come ... but I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart, I never meant to hurt anyone ... I live with the knowledge of my actions and I truly am sorry."

Gibbs' family wept openly at times as six different people shared their thoughts during the victim impact statements.

The most emotional words were from Hodes. She said Guthals acted irresponsibly and without concern for another.

"One day, Collin will walk out of prison and live life as he wishes, but he has given me a life sentence of missing my son forever," she said.

She also spoke poignantly about Matthew's life.

She said her son was autistic and suffered painful health issues as a child, including undergoing back surgery to help with scoliosis.

"Matthew was loved and brought laughter to our family," she said.

"Matthew's life was anything but easy. In school, he met bullies and people who were not like him and judged him and didn't take the time to get to know him.

"We watched him overcome bullies and more. He even graduated high school, even though some told us he never would. He even overcame as an adult and was one week from moving into his own apartment. I was so proud of him."

Guthals was ordered by the court to turn himself in to Department of Corrections officials within 24 hours of Monday's hearing.