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AMERICAN FORK — A group of friends and family members of Sandra Fiorella Robles wore matching T-shirts emblazoned with "Justice for Fiorella" and a picture of her as they asked the judge to keep her former boyfriend, who admitted to killing her, in prison for the rest of his life.
Fourth District Judge Roger Griffin sentenced Daniel Padilla-Ang, 28, to a term of 15 years to life in prison Tuesday, the maximum sentence for his charges under Utah law.
Padilla-Ang pleaded guilty on July 19 to murder, a first-degree felony, admitting to killing Robles, 20, in an Orem apartment.
Griffin explained to the family that Padilla-Ang will spend at least 20 years in prison before he could possibly be brought before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole and said he would include a recommendation that Padilla-Ang not be considered for parole because of the nature of the crime.
"I believe that you are a danger," Griffin told Padilla-Ang, "and if you are released, most likely you'll be a danger again to women in the community."
The judge said he is including in the notes that Padilla-Ang had previously participated in domestic violence treatment unsuccessfully and had multiple domestic violence issues in the past. If the man is released, he would be deported and not allowed back in the United States, Griffin said, but added that he could still be a danger to the community in another country.
The couple got into a fight on March 26. Robles had a THC vape pen that Padilla-Ang wanted to use, and when he grabbed it from her, it broke. This angered Robles who pushed and slapped him. Padilla-Ang responded by strangling Robles with his hands and shaking her. "After she passed out, he started punching her and he said, 'die,'" according to charging documents.
Many people in the courtroom Tuesday were emotional as family and friends shared what Robles meant to them and how her death has altered their lives. They said Padilla-Ang was able to deceive them and they were worried he would deceive others in order to get out of prison earlier. They asked for him to stay in prison for the rest of his life.
"I just hope he never sees the light of day, ever again, because I'm never going to see my sister again, ever again," Julie Robles said.
She asked the judge to understand what she and her family are going through, and will continue to go through for the rest of their lives. She said her only sister was her best friend and her motivation.
"It's really hard taking it day by day," she said. "It's like a nightmare. It's all a big nightmare."
Julie Robles talked about the many phone numbers Padilla-Ang would acquire in order to reach out to her sister to try to get back together, as the woman continued to block his attempts to contact her. She said she texted back and threatened to contact police if he continued to contact her sister, but he still did.
"He would not leave her alone. She tried to escape, I saw, I saw her wanting to leave that situation ... but this monster would not let that happen," Julie Robles said.
The victim's mother, also named Sandra Robles, spoke to the court in Spanish with a translator. She said Padilla-Ang was able to manipulate her daughter because her daughter would try to understand and help people instead of judging them. She said her daughter was a positive person and was always willing to help other people.
"Not only she passed away, not only she died. We have also. This has affected us for life. He didn't just kill one person, he killed a family, a community," the mother said.
After hearing from Robles' parents, sister and friends, Griffin was emotional as he encouraged the family to continue to live in memory of Sandra Fiorella Robles, who he said was a vibrant young woman whose incredible life was taken for no reason.
"May I suggest to you that you go on for your sister, that you be all that you can be for her," Griffin said. "Show the world what she could have been by being the best people that you can."
Padilla-Ang's attorney, Ryan Taylor, explained that his client did not want mercy, his only wish was to cause the least amount of additional pain or harm to the family as possible.
Padilla-Ang did not speak to the judge, he only stood at the lectern with his attorney or sat with his head down throughout the proceeding. He pleaded guilty to the charges as filed, and his attorney did not contest the $13,300 that the prosecution asked him to pay in restitution or the decision to leave the possibility for additional restitution based on ongoing therapy for the Robles family.
Deputy Utah county attorney Julia Thomas said Padilla-Ang was obsessed and was unable to let Sandra Fiorella Robles go. She said this case is an example of how serious domestic violence cases are.
She said that Padilla-Ang had completed probation five months before the date he killed Fiorella Robles and had previously been determined to be a domestic violence risk. She called the case a failure of the system and said when it is known someone is a risk for domestic violence it should be taken more seriously.
"Strangulation is an up-close-and-personal type of murder, and it takes time. He could have changed his mind," Thomas said.
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
