'Incorrigible criminal alien' sent to prison
In the middle of a winter storm one night in January 2004, Julie Mason was driving home from her job in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
The 35-year-old Burlington, Iowa, woman tried to avoid the car coming straight at her, investigators think. But the wife and mother of one could not do so. The head-on collision killed her instantly.
Behind the wheel of the other car? Antonio Medina-Sanchez, also known as Juan Luna.
He was drunk.
He also was an illegal immigrant, in the United States despite being deported twice before.
It was the fourth time he was caught for drunken driving in Iowa. He also had convictions throughout the Midwest for forgery, stealing a car and assault.
He was acquitted of vehicular homicide by a jury in Des Moines County, Iowa, but was convicted of drunken driving.
Medina-Sanchez, however, will spend 10½ years in prison for violating federal immigration laws — again. He was sentenced Thursday in
U.S. District Court in Davenport by Judge James E. Gritzner. Prosecutor Cliff Cronk requested more time for Medina-Sanchez, calling him an “incorrigible criminal alien.”
“Medina-Sanchez has a history of criminal behavior and alcohol abuse,” Cronk wrote in his request for a sentence of at least 15 years.
“He has ignored several directives to stay out of this country. Previous efforts to punish him for anti-social behavior have been fruitless and futile. Given his horrendous history of driving while intoxicated, it was inevitable that he would end up in an accident where someone was hurt or killed.
“The best way to afford just punishment, protect society from him, deter him and others from criminal behavior and address directly his past wrongs is to incarcerate him for many years.”
His attorney, Donovan Robertson, argued for about three years in prison, noting Medina-Sanchez was acquitted of vehicular homicide. He also argued that Medina-Sanchez’s criminal history was overplayed, specifically the stolen car charge that resulted in a jump up in the federal sentencing guidelines.
The recommended sentencing range for Medina-Sanchez was 100 to 125 months. Gritzner sentenced him to 125 months.
“The likelihood of further crimes from this defendant approaches 100 percent,” Gritzner said.
Medina-Sanchez will more than likely be deported after his sentence is complete.
Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.