The two had been introduced by mutual friends and were on a second date. Mathews had finished eight months of duty in Iraq earlier in the year and was looking forward to leaving the military in June and becoming a teacher. Bower, from Montgomery County, was pursuing a master's degree in psychology.
In his Nissan Sentra, Morales-Soriano slammed into Bower's car, spinning the Corolla around and breaking the windshield, prosecutors said. Witnesses at the scene said that Morales-Soriano stepped out of his car, shaking his head, and sat on a guardrail.
Bower and Mathews were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where they died.
When police arrived, Morales-Soriano was so intoxicated that he could not stand up straight when an officer attempted to give him a field sobriety test, according to a statement of facts from the county state's attorney's office.
Maryland's criminal sentencing guidelines suggest that, based on his lack of previous criminal and traffic convictions, Morales-Soriano should be sentenced to three months to four years for each manslaughter count. Judges often impose sentences based on the guidelines but are not required to.
Morales-Soriano had been arrested previously on driving-related violations, but prosecutors dropped the charges because of insufficient evidence, Assistant State's Attorney Danielle Duclaux. During yesterday's hearing, Duclaux recommended the maximum sentence of 10 years for each count.
In addition to the 10 years of active prison time, Becker imposed another 10 years that are to be suspended and five years of probation upon release. Authorities have said Morales-Soriano probably will be deported when he completes his sentence.
"It really kind of shows the inadequacies of the system," Howard County State's Attorney Dario Broccolino said after the hearing. "You can't resurrect somebody. That would be justice."
William Mathews said he did not find the sentence sufficient.
"I thought this was going in a good direction," William Mathews said of Gelfman's rejection of the first plea. "I was a little taken aback."
Though he characterized the sentence as "farcical," Mathews said his family "has never been interested in vengeance."
"I feel a great deal of compassion for the defendant," he said. "He's human like the rest of us."
Bower's family did not attend the sentencing, but Becker read aloud excerpts from a victim impact statement from the family.
