Man gets life prison sentence for wife’s slaying

A 35-year-old man convicted of fatally shooting his wife in August 2008 was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

Mauricio Melendez was convicted in July of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the death of Chennel Melendez, 33.

Las Vegas police were called on Aug. 7, 2008 to the Melendez apartment near Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue. When they arrived, they found find Chennel Melendez on a couch with a bullet wound to her head.

Mauricio Melendez told investigators he and his wife were drunk and he was showing her how to use his .357-caliber handgun. He told police he remembered hearing a gunshot, but did not know how it happened.

Investigators later learned from one of Mauricio Melendez’s co-workers that he had said he wanted to kill his wife, according to court documents.

Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Mauricio Melendez to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 20 years for the first-degree murder conviction. A consecutive sentence of 20 years with eligibility for parole after eight years was added for the use of a deadly weapon enhancement.

Mauricio Melendez was given credit for the year he has already spent in prison, meaning he could be eligible for parole in 27 years.

Mauricio Melendez did not speak at the sentencing hearing.

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