Las Cruces, NM—Cornelius Renteria received the maximum sentence of 32½ years from Third Judicial Court Judge Darren Kugler at the urging of Prosecuting District Attorney Heather Chavez.
On May 8, 2014 after 8 hours of deliberation a jury found Cornelius Renteria guilty of attempted first degree murder, aggravated burglary, child abuse and felon in possession of a firearm for the events that took place in March, 2013.
On March 27, 2013 the defendant went to his girlfriend Christina Corral’s home and began loading a small revolver telling her ‘things did not have to end this way’. Renteria forced his way into the victims home and shot her 3 times. When her 9 year old daughter attempted to intervene the defendant turned on the child and dry fired. Then
Renteria proceeded to beat Ms. Corral with the gun resulting in near fatal blows to her head. All 3 of Ms. Corral’s very young children witnessed the entire scene and “remain traumatized and unable to process the event”, Prosecuting District Attorney Heather Chavez said.
Nineteen year Las Cruces Police Department veteran, Detective Paul Weyler, told prosecutors this was one of the most egregious crimes he had ever investigated.
Requesting the maximum imposed sentence, Prosecuting District Attorney Heather Chavez pointed out that Cornelius Renteria “repeatedly thumbs his nose at the law.” He was on probation at the time he committed this violent act and “since 1999 has had consistent contact with the criminal justice system”. She went on to say that Renteria “should not be on the streets as he is a great danger to the community.”
Ms. Chavez said this victory was absolutely a team effort saying, “I could not have done this without Senior Prosecuting District Attorney RoxeAnne Esquibel’s wisdom and help at trial, District Attorney's Office Victim Advocate Vanessa Holguin’s calm devotion to the victim and her children, Legal Secretary Candi Barrera’s diligence, and the work of Detective Paul Weyler. Thank you to each and every one of you. Because of all of you, justice was done today for our victim and her children.”
Information from: Dona Ana County District Attorney's Office