TWENTYNINE PALMS MAN SENTENCED IN 2016 STABBING DEATH

A Twentynine Palms man who was convicted of second degree murder in December for killing a man two years ago was sentenced to prison Friday morning. Carlos Herrera, 42, was sentenced to a total of 16 years to life for stabbing and killing Luis Arroyo, 49, when he found Arroyo in bed with his estranged wife on September 14, 2016. Arroyo’s youngest brother gave a victim’s impact sentence in which he said his brother would never get to see his daughter get married or see his grandchildren. Herrera addressed the court, saying he was not crazy and couldn’t talk about the event, and he regretted not being able to see his family or children any more. Judge Rodney Cortez said it was obvious from the photos and evidence that Herrera had planned the killing and it was a vicious killing due to the fact that blood spatters were found in every nook and cranny of the bedroom. And, he added, Herrera’s estranged wife was lucky to be alive because if she hadn’t escaped from the bedroom, Cortez was certain she would have been killed too. Carlos Herrera was sentenced to 15 years to life for the second degree murder, with a one year enhancement for using a deadly weapon, for a total of 16 years to life in state prison.