LV man gets 40 years

A Las Vegas man who shot his estranged wife in the head while she held their 18-month-old daughter outside the Gold Spike casino in November 2008 was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday.

Mauricio Solano, 25, pleaded guilty in September to attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon and child abuse and neglect. He could be eligible for parole after 16 years.

Solano's ex-wife Yeni Osorio survived the shooting, but said during the sentencing hearing she still suffers severe physical pain and mental anguish from the incident.

In tearful testimony, Osorio told Judge Michael Villani through a Spanish interpreter that she can't use her left arm and can barely hear with her left ear.

"I can't even comb my hair," she said. "I have such pain in my head sometimes I can barely stand it."

Osorio said Solano had threatened to kill her, her mother and her brother. "After what he has done I do believe he is capable," she said.

Osorio then described what she could remember of the shooting.

"He grabbed me by the neck and he smashed me against the car. And I was holding the baby in my arms and he said, 'Who do you think you are?' And he said, 'If you'd like to meet the devil, your time has come.' "

Solano then pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and put it to her face, Osorio said. "I held onto my daughter and I screamed 'Help, help.' And that was the end of it for me."

Osorio asked that justice be done so she wouldn't live her whole life in fear.

Prosecutor Jay Raman said it was a miracle that she was still alive.

Before being sentenced, Solano apologized for what he had done. "I thank God she is alive. I hope one day she will forgive my act," he said.

Solano's attorney, Joel Mann, said his client was severely depressed at the time of the shooting and wanted to commit suicide afterward.

Villani told Solano he understood that he suffered from depression. "I think you would agree that those emotional issues pale in comparison to what your ex-wife is going through today. Unfortunately I think she has a life term of physical misery."

Villani added that Osorio's pain and anguish far outweighed any punishment that Solano faced.

At the time of the shooting, police said Solano had violated a protective order by being in contact with her.

The two were passing off custody of their 18-month-old daughter.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.