Arizona
Arizona domestic violence suspect sentenced to life in prison
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A man has learned his fate after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts of domestic violence crimes.
On Saturday, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that 49-year-old Eric Pastrano has been sentenced to life in prison for domestic violence incidents against his ex-wife in 2023.
On April 2, 2023, Pastrano left a voicemail to his ex-wife, saying he would “bathe her in blood,” and also threatened her life in numerous text messages. He later showed up at her home but left when he saw she had a gun. Officials say the victim’s daughter and granddaughter were home at the time and hid in the bathroom and called police.
Just a month later, on May 9, Pastrano reportedly returned to his ex-wife’s house wearing a ski mask and body armor. He broke into the home, where he shot at the victim’s bedroom door, which barely missed her. Pastrano then went inside the bedroom, where he hit her with the pistol and choked her.
“Living in fear for your life is no way to live,” said Mitchell. “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.”
Pastrano was a prohibited possessor during these crimes due to previous felony convictions in December 1995, June 2011, and July 2022—these involved violent felonies, including an aggravated assault against his ex-wife.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 for anyone who is a victim of abuse.
For more information on resources available in the Valley for domestic violence victims, click here.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
Highs just barely missed the triple digits in the Valley for Sunday, but the summer heat is approaching. FOX 10’s Erica Horvatin has more on our near-normal temps this week, which surpasses 100 degrees.
PHOENIX — The number of legal challenges to detentions in Arizona and nationwide has grown to record highs.
Immigration Attorney Hugo Balderas Ibarra said when someone is picked up by ICE, typical bond hearings are “pretty much out the window.”
“These policies that the administration is implementing violate the due process, violate fifth amendment,” Balderas Ibarra said.
This has led attorneys representing detained individuals to file what’s known as a habeas corpus petition.
“A habeas corpus petition is something in federal court that says the federal government is detaining me or confining me somewhere without basis in law,” New Frontier Immigration Law founder Hillary Walsh said.
Walsh said she filed three petitions on Friday alone.
“One of these is for an 18-year-old kid who has no criminal history,” Walsh said. “He came here to seek asylum a few years ago, and went through the whole process legally, asked at the border, did everything right, and now he’s detained.”
Data by TRAC shows the surge in the federal filings alleging illegal detention over the past year.
From 105 nationally in March 2025, to 9,059 the same month this year.
In Arizona, more than 1,100 cases have been filed between October and March, according to TRAC.
“A lot more people who are being detained, but we also have a whole other layer to the process for getting them out if they’re eligible for bond, and so that clogs up the whole federal court system,” Walsh said.
-
Dallas, TX4 minutes agoFree Agent Focus: Dallas Stars
-
Miami, FL7 minutes agoMiami lands commitment from Rivals300 LB Noah Glover
-
Boston, MA12 minutes agoFree June events: Pride Month, Father’s Day, and more – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO19 minutes agoTwo Colorado smoke shops shut down for selling restricted products to minors
-
Seattle, WA22 minutes agoWEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Graduation season begins Monday
-
San Diego, CA27 minutes agoAnnual Rock ’n’ Roll races bring 30,000 runners to San Diego streets
-
Milwaukee, WI34 minutes agoAuburn baseball vs Milwaukee regional championship: Time, TV, how to watch
-
Atlanta, GA37 minutes agoJackets Fall to Sooners in Game 6 of Atlanta Regional
