A Montana man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for accidentally shooting and killing his 8-year-old daughter while firing shots at the girl's mother and his son.
Tony Louis Valez, a 66-year-old resident of Helena, received his sentence from Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Mike Menahan on Wednesday. In September, Valez pleaded guilty to one count of deliberate homicide.
Originally, he faced one count of deliberate homicide, two counts of attempted deliberate homicide, and one count of criminal endangerment. Valez was arrested on July 10, 2022, for the tragic incident.
The Independent Record reports that Valez believed two women had come to evict him from his house, leading him to lose his temper. He then grabbed a gun from his bedroom and began firing shots.
According to court documents, he shot his partner, Heather Hall, causing her to fall to the ground, and then fired at his 18-year-old son. However, he missed his son and, tragically, struck his daughter in the back as she tried to escape. She fell off the back deck and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
While testifying, Helena Police Department Sgt. Adam Shanks stated that Valez felt justified in shooting at his partner and son but didn't initially realize he had shot his daughter.
During the sentencing hearing, Valez's attorney requested a 40-year sentence, but District Attorney Kevin Downs recommended a 100-year sentence, which the judge deemed appropriate and warranted.
The judge expressed disbelief that being evicted could justify using a handgun in such close quarters with children present. Valez appeared at the hearing via Zoom.
Arianna's mother, Heather Hall, is still grieving the loss of her daughter. She shared her ongoing pain and sorrow, stating, "The day Arianna died, so did a part of my heart. I feel lost, I don't know what to do. It's a never-ending nightmare of pain. Night and day, it's this prevailing thought that she died, and I lived."
Valez, who will be eligible for parole at the age of 91, expressed remorse for his actions, saying, "I'm sorry for all this. I can't undo what I've done. The pain and misery will last a lifetime, and I'm sorry for that."
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