A man in Maricopa County has received a life prison sentence after pleading guilty to a string of felony crimes related to domestic violence. It was all for a series of violent incidents he targeted at his ex-wife early this year.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced Saturday that 49-year-old Eric Pastrano has been given the conviction after a series of threatening and violent incidents against his ex-wife early this year.
Incidents began on 2 April 2023, when Pastrano left an ex-wife a voicemail saying he would “baptize her in blood.” Further, he continued sending threatening text messages and later went to her house, but retreated upon seeing a gun in her possession. At the time, her daughter, and granddaughter were in the bathroom, where they called police.
Barely a month later, on May 9, Pastrano returned to his ex-wife’s house, this time wearing a ski mask and body armor. He entered the home at gunpoint and fired a shot through the bedroom door, missing his ex-wife by mere inches. He then went into the room, beat her with the pistol and strangled her.
The criminal record of Pastrano consists of several prior felony convictions, violent crimes included. As of the 2023 incidents, he was a prohibited possessor because of felony convictions in 1995, 2011, and 2022, which included an aggravated assault against the very same victim.
According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, the sentence was significant, saying in a press statement, “Living in fear for your life is no way to live. The relief that this sentencing brings to this victim – in knowing that her perpetrator will never leave prison – is the best outcome for our office.”
Help exists for those experiencing domestic violence. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for assistance.
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