Local News: McGuff sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder in Brazil (26.08.24)

John Luke B. McGuff

BRAZIL – A Reelsville man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in what was originally a murder case.

John Luke B. McGuff will spend at least 15 years behind bars after Clay Superior Court Judge Robert Pell sentenced him to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for the May 11, 2023, killing of 48-year-old William Matherly of Cloverdale.

Facing a murder trial last month, McGuff pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

To prove “sudden heat” in a court of law and thus reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter, the defense had to show that the person felt anger, rage, resentment, or fear sufficient to overshadow the reason of a normal person.

The murder charge and the charge of illegally carrying a handgun (a Class A misdemeanor) were dropped.

While McGuff's charges have now been finalized in Clay County, he faces further proceedings in Putnam County.

Due to a summary trial error by the Clay County District Court, McGuff was released from Clay County custody on December 15, 2023.

While McGuff awaited trial in Clay County, he was charged with additional violent crimes.

McGuff was allegedly one of two suspects involved in the shooting death of Carlie Capps III of Greencastle during a home invasion robbery at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, and fled the scene in the victim's car.

On August 1, he pleaded guilty to the most serious of the five charges brought against Putnam: burglary with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.

The other charges in the case – aggravated assault (level 3 felony), robbery with assault (level 3 felony), criminal recklessness (level 5 felony) and auto theft (level 6 felony) – were all dropped.

McGuff will appear before Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley for sentencing on Thursday, September 12. McGuff will be represented by defense attorney Trudy Selvia, while Chief Assistant District Attorney Austin Malayer will represent the State of Indiana.

Co-defendant Skyler H. Pintor, 31, Fillmore, also plans to enter a change of plea during a hearing on Sept. 19.

Pintor is charged with four of the five counts brought against McGuff, minus the charge of aggravated assault.