The last of three men convicted of participating in a three-hour home-invasion spree that included a murder was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison plus an additional 34 years in prison.
Adrian Valenzuela could be paroled on the life sentence after 25 years, but he would then have to serve 34 years.
Valenzuela was the getaway driver during five home invasions on June 26, 2006, according to prosecutors.
During the last home invasion, Martin Guillermo Rodriguez, 35, was shot to death as he struggled with Valenzuela's accomplices, Andy Chavarria Gonzales and Thomas Hernandez.
A Pima County jury convicted Valenzuela of 32 felony charges, including first-degree murder, in August.
On Tuesday, Deputy Pima County Attorney Michael Kelly told Judge Edgar Acuña he doesn't believe Hernandez and Gonzales would have gone on the crime spree without Valenzuela, whom he described as a "charismatic, intelligent" manipulator.
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While awaiting trial, Valenzuela wrote letters and made phone calls trying to persuade people to set up an alibi for him, Kelly said.
Valenzuela knew staying in the car would keep him out of harm's way and diminish the chance he'd leave evidence behind, Kelly said.
Maria Luisa Rodriguez, Rodriguez's widow, asked Acuña to give Valenzuela as much time as possible.
"I don't believe these people who killed my husband deserve a place in our society," she said.
Defense attorney Jill Thorpe said her client still maintains his innocence and hopes to have a chance at freedom one day.
Even if jurors were correct in their verdicts, the evidence showed Hernandez and Gonzales acted on their own and Valenzuela wasn't a catalyst, Thorpe contended.
The defense attorney also asked the judge to look at what he gave Hernandez and Gonzales and to sentence Valenzuela proportionately. Hernandez was the shooter and he received a prison sentence of 25 years to life in prison plus 48 1/2 years, Thorpe said.
Gonzales is serving 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery.
As for the notes and calls Kelly referenced, they were "ambiguous," Thorpe said.
Both of Valenzuela's parents were in prison by the time he was 9 years old and he began drinking at 10, Thorpe said.
Valenzuela turned 22 last week.
In addition to the prison sentence, Acuña ordered Valenzuela to pay $25,559 in restitution.
