Bradenton man sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing Pinellas deputy in 2021

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The drunk driver who hit and killed Pinellas County Deputy Michael Magli last year changed his plea to guilty Friday and will spend 35 years in prison.

Before a judge finalized Robert Holzaepfel's sentence, Magli's loved ones spoke directly to him during the hearing.

"You robbed a great man of a good life, but you also robbed my kids of the life that they deserve," said Stephanie Magli, Deputy Magli's widow, who even thanked Holzaepfel for changing his plea. "I thank you for offering to do 35 years, for sparing us a trial and having to see pictures and videos of Michael's final moments."

On February 17, 2021, Holzaepfel was driving drunk, with his blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit. He was trying to evade Pinellas County deputies when he hit and killed Deputy Magli, who was out of his cruiser and deploying stop sticks at the time.

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Deputy Magli's death was the first-ever death in the line of duty for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was a hard loss not just for his family, but for the community.

Deputy Michel Magli's family stands next to a patrol vehicle surrounded by flowers honor the deputy after he was killed in the line of duty. 

"It's been a complete nightmare. At times, I want to yell and scream at you for taking Michael from us," said Angela Magli, Deputy Magli's mother, during the hearing. "Nothing is the same and never will be for us again. His life was dedicated to serving and helping people and he was damn good at it. But his life was tragically cut short."

Stephanie Magli's message focused as much on her husband as it did on the two daughters she left behind.

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"Our youngest was nine months old. She will grow up without a single memory of her father," she said. "You robbed these girls of their daddy kissing their boo-boos, teaching them to ride a bike, to drive a car or walk them down the aisle one day."

The deputy was just 30 years old at the time and had been with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for eight years. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, during Magli's time on the force, he made a difference and was a hero when he died.

"When Deputy Michael Magli was doing what cops do every day is to protect the public from evil like this, he was killed. And he was killed in a brutal way. And it's a very, very tough situation, but this is justice," Sheriff Gualtieri said after the hearing. "For us, this is the first [line-of-duty death], hopefully the last, ever in the history of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. And it is something undoubtedly that we think about every single day."

Holzaepfel is charged with murder in the third degree, DUI manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing police. He had originally pleaded not guilty to these charges, which would have led to a jury trial in the coming weeks.

He was given the chance to speak during the hearing Friday, but instead chose to have his attorney read a statement for him.

Robert Holzaepfel pleaded guilty to driving drunk and hitting a killing Deputy Michael Magli in exchange for 35 years in prison.

"He's so very, very sorry for the incredible losses that he has caused," said Margaret Russell, Assistant Public Defender.

At the time of the crash, Robert Holzaepfel was 33 years old, with 16 prior felony convictions.