Pueblo man sentenced to 6 years for killing

Posted: Oct 19, 2012 10:31 AM by David Ortiviz
Updated: Oct 19, 2012 10:39 AM

A Pueblo man who killed his girlfriend's father has been sentenced to prison. David Luna, 24, had been facing a charge of first degree murder, but back in June a jury convicted him of a lesser charge of manslaughter.

This morning a district judge sentenced Luna to 6-years in prison. The maximum sentence for his charges.

In August 2010, prosecutors say Luna shot and killed Richard Maes, 49, outside the Midtown Shopping Center in Pueblo. The defense argued Luna acted in self defense, although Maes wasn't armed. Luna was dating Maes' daughter and the couple shares a child.

Before sentencing, Luna approached the stand and apologized to the victim's family. "I want to express my deepest sympathy for the Maes family for their loss," said Luna. "There's no amount of prison time that will bring Mr. Maes back," he added.

Maes' family had a chance to address the judge as well. "I still can't get over it. It's not right that his life was taken for no reason," said Cindy Herrera.

The Pueblo District Attorney's office say they plan to appeal Luna's conviction, in hopes of re-trying the case.