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SALT LAKE CITY -- A 17-year-old charged as an adult for her role in the shooting death of a young girl will spend up to 15 years in prison.
Maria Menchaca was killed during a drive-by shooting July 6, 2008. Mae Goodman Johnson was in the vehicle of the car and was involved in the planning of the drive-by.
Walking out of the courtroom Friday, Johnson's mother was visibly upset about her daughter's sentence.
Johnson, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the shooting death of 7-year-old Maria Menchaca will serve 1 to 15 years in the state prison, with credit for time already served. A judge also ordered Johnson to pay restitution.
Clayton Simms, Johnson's attorney, asked the judge to sentence his client to only two more years in prison after the 1 year, 11 months and 25 days she has served.
"The pain that she (Johnson) feels is genuine," Simms said. "She can never replace the loss that has taken place, but she is genuinely remorseful."
Johnson even pleaded to the judge through tears, saying, "It was never my intention to hurt her (Maria)," and that she "wakes up every morning feeling the family's pain."
• July 7, 2008 - Suspects arrested in shooting of 7-year-old girl
• July 9, 2008 - Girl killed in drive-by shooting laid to rest
• July 15, 2008 - Charges filed in murder of 7-year-old
• July 17, 2008 - Suspects in drive-by shooting appear in court
• Dec. 11, 2008 - Mae Goodman Johnson pleads guilty in death of 7-year-old
• March 28, 2009 - Shooter takes plea deal in 7-year-old's death
• Aug. 13, 2009 - Gabriel Alvarez gets 16 years to life for fatal drive-by shooting
Judge Himonas didn't seem to buy that remorse, and even interrupted her at one point to say, "There is no way you can feel their pain."
"This has been a two-year process for the family, and they've been devastated," said Deputy District Attorney Blake Hills. "They're just as devastated today as they were two years ago."
Hills represented the state in the case and spoke on behalf of the Menchaca family.
He says it was painful for Maria's father to get up in court Friday in front of Johnson and tell the Judge that since the loss of his daughter, he feels like he's "missing his life."
"It just brings back all the pain and devastation that he feels," Hills said.
Overall the state says it's pleased with the judge's decision. Johnson is the last of three to be sentenced in the case.
According to charging documents, Johnson and two others -- Frank Puga Benavidez, who was 20, and Gabriel Alejandro Alvarez, then 16 -- drove in an SUV to Menchaca's home to confront Menchaca's 20-year-old cousin over a fight from earlier in the day.
Alvarez allegedly shot a gun, killing the girl. Alvarez pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder, while Benavidez was convicted and sentenced on the same charge.
Benavidez will serve at least 16 years to life for his conviction. Alvarez was sentenced to the same for firing the fatal shot.
"They do think justice was served and they hope that the board of pardons will keep all three defendants incarcerated as long as possible," Hills said.
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Story compiled with contributions from Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.
