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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- An illegal immigrant from Mexico has been sent to prison for the slaying of a co-worker at an Elberta dairy farm operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Fourth District Judge Lynn Davis sentenced Sergio Ramos-Trujillo, 27, on Wednesday to five years to life in prison for murder, one to 15 years for obstruction of justice and zero to five years for possession of a handgun by a restricted person.
Davis ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will determine exactly how long Ramos-Trujillo will remain in prison.
"I feel very bad about what happened," Ramos-Trujillo said through an interpreter. "I am sorry. I ask for forgiveness from the family."
Ramos-Trujillo was arrested on Sept. 16 after his roommate, Jorge Corona, 39, was found shot to death at their bunkhouse. Corona had been shot three times in the neck. The men fought the day before over a road rage incident.
Corona had hit Ramos-Trujillo, and Ramos-Trujillo, strongly fearing Corona, had borrowed a gun and shot Corona, defense attorney Richard Gale said during the trial.
Davis said Wednesday that his biggest concern was the victim's family.
"This court is concerned there is no voice for the widow and the three fatherless children," Davis said of the victim's family. "That tears at my heart strings. I'm saddened by that -- there must be a voice for the widow."
Deputy Utah County Attorney Randy Kennard said he has been trying to get in contact with the victim's family, but has not been able to.
Corona's wife and children live in Mexico and know what's been happening in the case, Jose Munoz, a friend of Corona's, said after the sentencing.
Munoz said he spoke to Corona's wife, Gabriela, after the jury convicted Ramos-Trujillo.
"She is glad that the law is doing what it's doing," he said, adding he is saving newspaper clippings about the case to send to Corona's wife and children, who could not attend because they do not have the papers to get into the United States.
Munoz said of the sentencing, "I'm glad he got what he got. I'll be there when he's up for parole."
Based on a sentencing guideline used by Adult Probation and Parole, the recommended prison time for Ramos-Trujillo's crimes would be about 16 years.
Gale said that based on prison statistics, 20 years is a more likely term. After Ramos-Trujillo serves his time in the United States, he will be deported to Mexico.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
