The sentencing hearing for a Hutchinson man convicted for the killing of another man was very emotional as you would expect.
22-year-old Isaac Beltran was sentenced to 154-months in prison by Judge Tim Chambers who said the aggravating factors required him to give the aggravated sentence. The aggravating factor was because Beltran was on community corrections when the shooting of Dustin Brooks occurred and he shouldn’t have had a gun in his possession because of the previous felony conviction for possession of cocaine. Judge Chambers also ordered the sentence to run consecutive to the cocaine sentence.
Beltran was facing trial on charges of intentional second degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm, but entered a plea to unintentional second degree murder. The state then dropped the firearm charge. The two sides had recommended 146-months in prison which is the standard mid-range sentence, but the judge went with the aggravated sentence instead.
Beltran was convicted in the shooting death of the 26-year-old Brooks in the alley behind the home where Beltran lived at 203 North Cleveland on Halloween night in 2012. Brooks suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and died after emergency surgery failed at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
Both families spoke prior to sentencing with the victims family going first. The victims mother went first to speak and told of seeing her son in the backseat of a car and says she knew she couldn’t touch him. There was some question as to why he wasn’t taken to the hospital right away? She said his last words were, “take me to my moms house.” She also stated that she forgives Beltran and says she prays for him. She told the court that “hating him isn’t going to help me or my family.” The others who spoke weren’t so generous saying that they hated him and you just don’t know what you did. Others also suggested that he find “God.”
The defendants parents also spoke and both apologized to the family of the victim and his father said he feels like its kind of his fault.
Beltran also spoke and apologized to the family saying he was a dumb a** little kid that night and that he’s not a gang banger. He says he has found “God” and prays for the family everyday. He then finished his statement with a simple. “I’m sorry, that’s all I can say.”
In addition to the sentence, the judge also ordered restitution of 55-thousand, 862-dollars and Beltran will have to register as a violent offender.