Man sentenced to life in jail with out parole for deadly capturing of Provo police officer

PROVO — “Two stunning, harmless little boys” have been those harm probably the most by the dying of Provo police officer Joseph Shinners, his widow and the mom of his kids stated Tuesday.

Kaylyn Shinners stated her husband valued his household and “completely liked being a father.” She stated her coronary heart breaks when she has to inform her youthful son why he’s not in any footage together with his dad.

“That evening, one artificial a alternative that devastated our lives,” she stated.

Matt Frank Hoover, 45, was sentenced on Tuesday to life in jail with out the potential of parole for aggravated homicide, a first-degree felony, for capturing and killing Joseph Shinners in 2019.

Hoover was additionally given consecutive sentences of zero to 5 years in jail for failing to reply to an officer, zero to 5 years for possession of a managed substance, and for zero to 5 years for possession of a firearm as a restricted particular person — every a third-degree felony.

Hoover was discovered responsible on March 15 after a three-week jury trial.

‘Similar to that, my world modified’

Joseph Shinners was shot on Jan. 5, 2019, whereas making an attempt to arrest Hoover on warrants in entrance of the Mattress Tub & Past in Orem. Hoover was additionally shot through the incident.

Fourth District Decide Kraig Powell’s courtroom was full for the sentencing listening to, and plenty of of Joseph Shinners’ relations shared feedback.

Powell stated Hoover’s actions induced a monetary burden and psychological damage to a number of victims. He additionally stated it was “excessive cruelty” for Hoover to place officers in that place. He stated officers have an obligation to hold out an operation, and to place officers in a premeditated state of affairs like that meant there was an ideal danger.

Kaylyn Shinners stated the final day of her husband’s life was fairly regular: He fell asleep cuddling with their son, and she or he woke him as much as prepare to start his shift as a police officer. A number of hours later, she obtained a knock on the door and opened it to 2 law enforcement officials. One officer stayed to look at their son whereas the opposite rushed her to the hospital, the place her husband had been taken into surgical procedure.

“I waited, the physician got here out someday later and instructed us that Joe was gone. Similar to that, my world modified,” she stated.

A number of days after Joseph Shinners’ funeral, his widow discovered she was pregnant. She stated what ought to have been a cheerful time was not. Now, she stated, all her moments of happiness are additionally stuffed with grief.

“There’s nothing fairly like turning into a widow at 28, realizing I’ve a lot longer to dwell with out my finest buddy, dreading my future as an alternative of wanting ahead to it, feeling such a heavy burden of determining every little thing on my own,” she stated.

Kaylyn Shinners stated her coronary heart breaks for the entire kids she would not get to boost as a result of her husband is gone, and the entire issues her husband won’t be able to show his sons. She stated, nonetheless, that none of his actions that evening shocked her.

“He was courageous and selfless,” she stated.

She stated she met Joseph Shinners when she was 13. He liked speaking to others and would make them really feel valued, she stated.

“I do not suppose there’s any technique to measure the nice he did on this life, and all the nice he would have continued to do if he have been nonetheless alive,” she stated.

Victims request no parole

Provo Police Chief Troy Beebe stated Joseph Shinners embodied love and compassion and went above and past to assist strangers and people in want. Beebe stated he was an “wonderful peace officer.”

“The impression of dropping Joe extends far past our police division, it deeply impacted the complete metropolis of Provo,” the chief stated.

Beebe stated hundreds of residents, together with kids, lined the streets to pay respect to Shinners.

“I urge you to carry Hoover accountable for his heinous actions by sentencing him to life with out the potential of parole,” he stated.

Joseph Shinners’ brother, Mike Shinners, and father, John Shinners, additionally requested Powell to not enable Hoover the potential of parole.

John Shinners stated he was so proud when his son graduated from the police academy and did not know that a couple of years later his coronary heart, and hearts of his complete household, can be damaged.

“I get up within the morning with a void in my life that may by no means be crammed,” he stated.

He puzzled aloud what his son would have achieved if he have been nonetheless right here. He stated Joseph Shinners’ time together with his new household was minimize brief so quickly, however he is aware of his son is watching over them.

Deputy Utah County lawyer Chad Grunander additionally requested for a sentence of life with out the potential of parole. He stated Hoover has a major legal historical past and is a profession legal. He additionally stated Hoover has minimized his function and accountability for Joseph Shinners’ dying.

Grunander stated this case is about justice and accountability, not revenge.

“Cops do a job that only a few of us are keen or need to do. They put their lives on the road day-after-day. They placed on the uniform and the badge, they defend us (by) standing between the legal aspect and a peaceable and orderly society,” he stated. “For that reason, murdering a police officer quantities to aggravated homicide and carries the potential for a life sentence with out parole.”

‘He is a human being’

Hoover expressed condolences to the Shinners household and stated he thinks about them day-after-day.

“I by no means supposed to hurt anybody. I feel my historical past exhibits that,” Hoover stated.

He stated he’s a drug addict and will have been getting assist, however he doesn’t suppose “the takedown” was obligatory.

“I do know they hate me, however I want they might hate me for the proper causes,” he stated, claiming there’s info the household would not know.

He stated it was “cowardly” of the opposite officer to not acknowledge that the gun went off whereas they have been wrestling over it, and that he did not even see Joseph Shinners when he fired the gun.

Hoover’s lawyer, Mary Corporon, stated her shopper needs he had made completely different choices or had been profitable in taking his personal life. She stated he had written a number of letters to the Shinners household searching for to precise agony for his or her ache, however the letters weren’t allowed to be despatched.

Corporon learn a letter Hoover wrote over a 12 months in the past, wherein he requested the household to maintain an open thoughts and stated he would settle for duty for the reality however “not for the fabrications.”

“I’m not the violent monster that they make me out to be — fully reverse, truly. I’m a quiet and mild and loving household man. I’ve executed plenty of executed issues in my life, however I by no means inflicted hurt on anybody,” Hoover stated within the letter.

Corporon stated Hoover can be a father and grandfather and had household within the courtroom supporting him.

“He’s not evil incarnate, he is a human being,” she stated. “He is by no means contended he wasn’t responsible, the query is the diploma of his guilt and what the suitable punishment is.”

She stated her shopper realizes, both approach, he would seemingly keep in jail the remainder of his life however requested for the likelihood to be open for somebody down the street to let him out of jail.