On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Matthew John Flaskrud was sentenced to 60 years in prison for Intoxication Manslaughter. Before his sentencing, Flaskrud – a habitual felon and sex offender – was a fugitive from Montgomery County justice for over 15 months.
In June of 2023, Flaskrud was on trial for the Intoxication Manslaughter of 36-year-old Derrick Hintzman, a father of two. During the trial, the jury learned that, on March 2, 2022, Flaskrud and Hintzman were riding motorcycles together when Flaskrud crashed into Hintzman as they turned into a parking lot. Evidence from the scene showed Flaskrud was driving off the side of the road at a high speed and never braked or attempted to avoid the crash. A forensic analysis of Flaskrud’s blood showed that he had recently consumed marijuana and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.142 – nearly twice the legal limit.
On the morning of the fourth day of trial, Flaskrud cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled the State of Texas. In compliance with Texas law, the trial continued in Flaskrud’s absence, and the jury quickly returned a guilty verdict. Judge Phil Grant was then presented with evidence of Flaskrud’s extensive criminal past, which included convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, intoxication offenses, and a federal prison sentence for fleeing from his sex offender supervision.
In September of 2024, an anonymous tip was submitted to the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. After diligent police work, Colleton County deputies arrested Flaskrud when he left the home where he had been hiding under an alias. Despite lying about his identity and attempting to be released on another bond in South Carolina, Flaskrud was extradited back to Montgomery County to finally face justice.
This case was investigated by the Conroe Police Department CORT Traffic Unit and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Vanegas and Criss Cole of the District Attorney Vehicular Crimes Unit.
After the trial, Vanegas said, “Derrick Hintzman didn’t deserve to die. Derrick’s mother didn’t deserve to look at an empty chair when the jury’s verdict was read. Derrick’s daughters didn’t deserve to wait more than a year for justice. But none of that mattered to Matthew Flaskrud, and now he gets exactly what he deserves.”
District Attorney Brett Ligon added, “Driving a vehicle while intoxicated is an inherently selfish act. But we have reached a new low when a defendant doesn’t even have the decency to show up to their own trial. A Montgomery County jury, Judge Phil Grant, and many dedicated public servants have made sure that Matthew Flaskrud will have the rest of his life to do nothing but think about his crimes.”