BREAKING NEWS

Man who burned, killed fiancee's infant daughter in 2013 sentenced to 20 years in prison

Bayan Wang
The Republic | azcentral.com
Breaking news

A man convicted of burning and killing his fiancee’s 8-month-old daughter in 2013 was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday for one count of second-degree murder and one count of child abuse.

Adrian Ponce, 26, was originally facing first-degree murder charges and several counts of child abuse before a plea agreement was arranged in May, reducing the charges.

“I think about her every day,” the infant’s trembling mother, Adaniris Santos-Vasquez, said softly at the lectern during the sentencing in Maricopa County Superior Court. 

“I have a lot of pain, anxiety, flashbacks,” and “didn’t get to celebrate her first birthday …her first steps, school; nothing,” she said. “I do not forgive him. I hope God does.”

Phoenix police in 2013 responded to a call referencing an injured baby at a residence near 28th Street and Greenway Road and found an unresponsive infant.

Sabrina Santos was transported and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, court records state.

A doctor at the hospital told police that Santos had multiple signs of abuse including “cigarette burns on the lower left jaw, left nostril, right cheek and right armpit,” while sustaining a fractured left arm, according to court records.

Behind the court lectern Friday, an interpreter accompanied the infant’s grandmother Silvia Vasquez, who showed Judge Danielle Viola a few presents she had planned to give the infant in anticipation of her first birthday.

“I have this little hat that I made for her,” Vasquez said in tears. “I bought some clothes for her when she turned one.”  

“I don’t know anymore what is just,” the grandmother said.

State vs. defense

Moments before the sentencing, prosecutor Ariel Serafin asked for a 22-year sentence for Ponce.  

“He took her out to make her mother’s life easier; she (Sabrina) returned with burns,” Serafin said.

“She was crying. She was in so much pain from her burns; he took her life," the prosecutor said, adding the family “will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.”

Ponce’s defense attorney asked for an 18-year-sentence, underscoring that Ponce was a victim of physical, emotional, and sexual trauma in the past that significantly affected his cognitive, problem-solving, and coping skills.

Victims of such trauma “lack oftentimes the responsibility to respond appropriately,” Ponce’s attorney said.

Before Viola made her sentencing, Ponce stood at the lectern briefly.

“I would like to apologize to the family,” he said. "... I’m willing to give my own life to bring Sabrina back because the family don’t deserve that loss.”

The sentence

Viola said “to a vulnerable and at 8 months old defenseless child, the position of trust was breached that led to her injuries and death.”

“Eight months is far too short for any life and certainly for one that the family was so emotionally attached and affected,” Viola said.

Viola also stated that court considered his family support, lack of criminal history and a list of mitigating factors presented by his attorney in determining the sentence.  

Viola also said Ponce “will not be eligible to be released until the entirety of the sentence is imposed."

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