Sierra LaMar's Killer Sentenced To Life In Prison

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The convicted killer of missing Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar was officially sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday at the Hall of Justice in San Jose. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Vanessa Zecher sentenced Antolin Garcia-Torres this afternoon after the defense submitted motions to request a new trial earlier today. A jury in June decided on the life term for Garcia-Torres, declining to sentence him to death.

An evidentiary hearing was held prior to the sentencing today as the defense requested a new trial based on what they said was poor handling of evidence during the case and alleged false testimony given by lead
investigator Sgt. Herman Leon.

Zecher denied the request for a new trial, saying that Leon's testimony was not false and the defense hadn't sufficiently proved that the prosecution had submitted fake or false evidence.

In addition, Zecher said that the outcome of the case wouldn't have been any different if Leon had been impeached from the trial since other evidence, including Garcia-Torres' and Lamar's DNA in the same areas
together, could have led to a similar conviction.

Four of LaMar's family members — her father, mother, an uncle and aunt — each took time before the official sentencing was handed down to address the court and Garcia-Torres.

The first to speak was Sierra's mother Marlene, who chose to do it from the witness stand.

"I find it incomprehensible to commit a heinous, violent crime," she said. "You caused great pain to our family and yours."

"You have robbed Sierra of what God had planned for her ... you can choose to make a choice and repent and tell us where she is," she said.

Garcia-Torres was mostly stoic as the relatives read letters, sometimes looking straight ahead and avoiding direct eye contact, and at other times slightly glancing down and away from the proceedings.

"Even after all the years of missing her, it is tough to grasp the reality of not seeing her again," Sierra's aunt Connie LaMar told the court.

Sierra's father Steve LaMar spoke last and also decided to speak from the witness stand.

"You have daughters. How would you feel if somebody took one of them from you?" Steve asked Garcia-Torres, who showed no emotion and didn't react to the question.

"She was so innocent," Steve added. "Just walking to a bus like any other normal day. Everyday, if we see pictures or videos of Sierra, we are left heartbroken and crying."

"I can only hope your time in prison will be a living hell," he said.

Garcia-Torres was also required to register as a sex offender after the prosecution argued that one of Garcia-Torres' main motivations to kidnap and kill Sierra LaMar was for sexual gratification.

Prosecutor David Boyd argued that while Garcia-Torres was being questioned about LaMar's disappearance, he was the only one who brought up anything sexual in nature. In addition, the three women he is accused of
kidnapping did not have anything robbed from their possession, and neither did LaMar. Sierra had all of her purse and monetary belongings intact, including her $5 in lunch money, Boyd told the court.

Earlier in the case, a video was shown to the court where Garcia-Torres explains to investigators how his DNA may have been found on Sierra's clothing, which was found covered in dirt stains and with a strong odor of human urine three days after her disappearance.

"I like masturbating, so, ha, that's it," a 21-year-old Garcia-Torres says in the video, explaining that he kept tissue or toilet paper in his car for this purpose and that his DNA would have been carried on the tissue wherever he disposed of it outside.

Boyd pointed out during the trial phase and again during the sentencing phase today that prior to this, investigators never raised the subject of anything sexual or suggested that ejaculate was found on Sierra's
jeans.

Zecher pinpointed Garcia-Torres' masturbation admission to investigators and the evidence that her belongings were not taken as to why she agreed with the prosecution's request for him to register as a sex
offender.

"I believe if he was given the opportunity, he would re-offend," Zecher said.

PREVIOUS:

• Sierra LaMar's Killer Awaits Tuesday Sentencing
  
• SF Judge Denies Sierra LaMar Killer's Motion For New Trial Judge
• Sierra LaMar Killer's Sentencing Delayed As Defense Seeks Removal Of Judge From Case
• Sierra LaMar's Killer Learns Fate: Jury Reaches Sentencing Verdict
• Sierra LaMar Trial: Prosecutor Urges Jury To Avenge Girl's Suffering
• New Trial In Sierra LaMar Murder Case May Be Sought, Defense Attorneys Say
• Sierra LaMar Murder: Jury Convicts Antolin Garcia-Torres In Death Of 15-Year-Old

By Bay City News Service

Image 1: Sierra LaMar (left); Garcia-Torres (right)/Photos via Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

Image 2: Antolin Garcia-Torres is pictured in 2012 in a Santa Clara County courtroom. (By Paul Sakuma/Associated Press, File)

Image 3: In this March 26, 2012 photo, a missing person poster depicting Sierra LaMar is posted at the intersection of Dougherty and Palm Avenues in Morgan Hill, Calif. This was the intersection where LaMar missed her bus to Sobrato High School. (By Ben Margot/Associated Press, File)