Jury recommends 15 years for a man convicted of manslaughter

By C

June 07, 2008 01:09 am

— A jury recommended a 15-year prison sentence for a man convicted of first-degree manslaughter Thurs-day in Blaine County District Court.
After a four-day trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for about two hours and 45 minutes, said District Attorney Cathy Stocker.
Victor Alfonso Duenas-Flores, 23, was formally sentenced by District Judge Dennis Hladik, who followed the sentencing recommendation of the jury.
Duenas-Flores was convicted of driving an automobile while under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident on Aug. 9, 2003, which resulted in the death of Michael David May, former superintendent of Watonga Public Schools.
“By state law, the sentence for first-degree manslaughter is a minimum of four years,” said Assistant District Attorney Barry Retherford, who prosecuted the case. “Those convicted of first-degree man-slaughter must serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.”
By law, Duenas-Flores won’t be eligible for parole for nearly 13 years.