DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a murder defendant to 20 years in prison on Sept. 12.
Alvin Cruz-Garcia, 27, was convicted by a jury on June 6 of second-degree murder while armed for the fatal beating of Ramon Gomez-Yanez, 38, on March 23, 2021 on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW.
According to the prosecution, Cruz-Garcia was urinating close to Gomez-Yanez’s car and the two had a verbal exchange. Then, as surveillance footage shows, Cruz-Garcia fatally beat Gomez-Yanez.
The prosecution argued for the toughest sentence within the 12-to-24 year guidelines, noting the especially brutal nature of the murder. They also said that Cruz-Garcia left the country for Mexico after the incident and did not return for a year.
“During that time, the Gomez-Yanez family had no idea if they would ever get justice,” the prosecutor said.
They also noted that Cruz-Garcia had not expressed remorse or a desire to take responsibility for the death throughout proceedings.
Gomez-Yanez’s brother spoke, telling the court that Cruz-Garcia’s actions caused great grief in his family and the community.
“He killed a father, a brother, an uncle, a son and a nice neighbor,” Gomez-Yanez’s brother said.
Defense attorney Julie Swaney argued for a 12-year sentence, saying that Cruz-Garcia struggles with alcohol and a traumatic past, but has no criminal record. She said Cruz-Garcia’s parents abandoned him when he was young to move to the United States.
Swaney also explained that he is “extremely reserved” and laughs or smiles when uncomfortable, which she described as a nervous tic.
Cruz-Garcia chose not to give a statement.
Judge Edelman expressed concern for Swaney’s argument.
“It’s hard to see what in Mr. Cruz-Garcia’s life trajectory led to this,” he said.
Judge Edelman underscored the brutality of the incident, describing it as “almost intimate” and “entirely senseless.”
Judge Edelman sentenced Cruz-Garcia to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He has 30 days to appeal.
No further dates were set.
