Man sentenced in toddler son's slaying

MONTEBELLO -- A Montebello man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday after entering a plea of "no contest" in the Jan. 3 shooting death of his 22-month old son.
Serafin Corona Sandoval, 24, shot his son to death at their apartment in the 800 block of Wilcox Avenue.
The lead investigator on the case, Montebello police Sgt. Kelly Gordon, said the news came as a pleasant surprise.
Both the prosecution and defense were preparing for trial when Sandoval announced he was ready to make a deal.
"We're very pleased with the conclusion, with the plea deal," Gordon said. "Sparing the family from having to testify."
Sandoval was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for second degree murder, Gordon said, and another 25 years for willfully discharging a firearm, causing great bodily injury.
"It was a devastating crime crime for the family, and for all the officers who responded," she she said.
Sandoval, who was paralyzed from the waist down after he jumped from a second-floor window immediately following the shooting, offered no explanation for his actions, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said.

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