The man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty in the death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.
Alex Ortiz, 33, had pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death, according to a statement released by the Denver District Attorney’s office.
A Denver District Court judge dismissed the first-degree murder charge in exchange for Ortiz’s guilty plea.
In February 2008 Ortiz called paramedics to his home near the 1500 block of East 50th Avenue. Ortiz’s girlfriend’s daughter, Joslyn Asberry, was unconscious.
Ortiz was babysitting Asberry and four other children at the time.
Asberry was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Ortiz made a statement in court today, apologizing to his girlfriend’s family, the D.A.’s office said.
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
