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Man in DUI video confession pleads not guilty — for now

An Ohio man who confessed in a viral video that he killed another man while driving under the influence pleaded not guilty.
Matt Cordle

(CNN) — An Ohio man who confessed in a viral video that he killed another man while driving under the influence pleaded not guilty Wednesday, but his attorney has said he still plans to plead guilty.

Matthew Cordle entered the Franklin County courtroom wearing a khaki jail uniform and sat silently as his attorney told judge Julie Lynch that Cordle was pleading not guilty.

During the brief proceeding, Lynch also set Cordle’s bond at $150,000, but it is unclear whether he will post the money.

Cordle, 22, posted a YouTube video on September 3 confessing to driving while drunk and “blacked out” and killing 61-year old Vincent Canzani on June 22.

Several days after the video appeared online, Cordle turned himself in to authorities and was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in the wrong-way crash.

“I take full responsibility for everything I’ve done to Vincent and his family,” Cordle said in the video. He also begged people watching the video to not drink and drive.

Cordle’s attorney, Martin Midian, told HLN earlier in the week that his client will likely plead not guilty at his arraignment, but that does not mean he is backing away from his confession.

Midian said the initial not guilty plea will just be standard operating procedure, and that his client will plead guilty at a later date.

A new judge will be assigned to Cordle’s case in the next few days. He is expected to plead guilty at his first appearance in front of the new judge.

The case will then move into the pre-sentence investigation phase, where the probation department will conduct an investigation into the facts.

If Cordle pleads guilty, his sentencing could take place within 30 days from when he changes his plea.

Ron O’Brien, the attorney who is prosecuting the case, told CNN that Cordle faces a maximum sentence of eight and a half years in prison if convicted.

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