Cameron Turner Photo

NORWICH – “He's not a man, he's not an animal, he's an evil thing among us.” These were the strong words from a murder victim's father when portraying the 57-year-old convicted killer of his son.
John M. Guzy, the man convicted of the 'road rage' killing of Derek D. Prindle, as well as the attempted murder of Derek S. Prindle, was sentenced to serve 40 years to life on the top two charges he was facing; Murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony; and attempted murder in the second degree, a class B felony; in the Chenango County Courthouse yesterday, June 27.
The sentencing culminates an almost two-year long ordeal for the victim's family that began on Oct. 27, 2014, at approximately 1:25 p.m., in the parking lot of a local business in the Town of Bainbridge. There, authorities say that Guzy, a former New York City Police Officer and part-time corrections officer, killed Derek D. Prindle by shooting him in the chest with a .25 caliber Beretta Jetfire semi-automatic handgun, causing a lacerated aorta, after a road rage incident. Guzy also caused serious physical injury to Derek D. Prindle, the victims father, by shooting him in his abdomen with the same gun. Guzy was allegedly under the influence of alcohol during the incident, as he was recorded as having a .11 blood alcohol content level after investigation into the incident.
During the sentencing, members of the victim's family were provided with an opportunity to speak about their loss, how the incident has impacted their lives, and what sentence they believed the defendant should be condemned to.
The victim's mother, Joyce Prindle, choked back tears while she offered poignant words about her son's life and what the convicted killer had taken away from her and the world, “This is the worst pain a mother could have to endure,” she said. “How could the perpetrator take away something so cherished? He (Derek) held dreams and aspirations for his future. There was so much to look forward to. My son didn't deserve to die. I miss his smile, I miss his voice, I miss his fun ways. I love him deeply.”
Guzy offered no visible reaction as he sat motionless, listening to the heart-wrenching statements.
Before The Honorable Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. declared his ruling, head prosecutor in the case, Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, pleaded with the judge to sentence the defendant to the highest possible prison term allowed by law. “A sentence of 50 years to life would prevent him (Guzy) from injuring anyone else. He would spend his remaining days in the correctional facility,” McBride said. McBride also implored that the court should be harsh in sentencing, as to deter people from using guns on innocent victims.
In passing sentencing, Judge Revoir offered his thoughts on the case. “Any death under these circumstances is a tragedy not only to the family, but to the community,” he said. “I'm at a loss for words, you clearly must be an angry man.”
Judge Revoir sentenced Guzy to an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life on the top count of murder in the second degree, and a determinate sentence of 15 years on the second count of attempted murder in the second degree, which will run consecutive with the top count.
In addition to the top two charges, Guzy was also found guilty on felony counts of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He also was convicted of driving while intoxicated and six counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors. These sentences will all run concurrently with the top two convictions.
After the conclusion of proceedings, a visibly emotional Derek S. Prindle thanked the State Police, along with the District Attorney, the Judge, and the press, for the roles that they played throughout the trial and sentencing. “The memory of my son will live on. He was a great man,” he said. “I guess justice has been served here today. This man will die in prison. He's a cowardly, poor excuse for a human being and he's been put away where he can no longer hurt anyone.”
Prindle also called for stricter gun control laws following the verdict, saying, “We need better gun control laws. People who exhibit unstable behavior should not be allowed to wander around in our society, armed, picking out victims at whim to murder.”