The nephew of a bedridden man shot and killed by police last year while holding only a soda can was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison in connection with the domestic-violence assault that first brought officers to the home.
Vincent Martinez, 43, repeatedly assaulted his girlfriend, Cathy Sandoval, on May 17 and again on July 11. The later assault lasted 17 hours as Martinez continually beat the woman, ripped out a phone line and kept her from leaving.
Martinez fled when police responded to the home at 1234 W. 10th Ave. He later turned himself in.
While searching for him on July 11, Denver police officer Ranjan Ford Jr. fatally shot Martinez’s uncle, Frank Lobato, 63, while he was lying in a bed watching television and holding a soda can.
The shooting outraged many in the community. Ford was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the case.
Sandoval’s sister spoke Tuesday before the court and said Martinez caused the situation that led to Lobato’s death.
“This was not only a domestic-violence case, but it led to the death of an innocent man,” said Maria Sandoval.
Sandoval’s sister said the family worried that Martinez was going to kill her.
Martinez was scolded by Denver District Judge Robert McGahey, who noted that it was Martinez’s seventh felony conviction.
“You don’t seem to get it,” McGahey said, as Martinez shook his head. “You not only caused her pain and injury, you treated her like an animal.”
Staff writer Sean Kelly can be reached at 303-820-1858 or skelly@denverpost.com.
