ADA, Minn. (AP) — A western Minnesota man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend’s young daughter.
Raul Perez of Dilworth pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was accused of killing 22-month-old Ariel Reyes.
Ariel died of head and neck trauma last year. She was injured while Perez was watching her and her older brother.
Perez admitted he became angry because the girl wouldn’t stop crying and threw her into her crib.
WDAY-TV reports Perez read an apology to the victim’s family before sentencing Monday in Norman County.
Perez got a stiffer sentence than court guidelines recommend because of aggravating factors, including the fact that the girl’s now-6-year-old brother witnessed the crime.
But the girl’s father says he wishes Perez had gotten an even harsher sentence.
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