Man gets life sentence for crucifix attack

TAKOMA PARK, Md., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A judge in Montgomery County, Md., said a 33-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison for trying to kill his girlfriend with a hefty crucifix.

The Washington Post reported Montgomery County Circuit Judge Durke G. Thompson sentenced Carlos Ovalle, 33, to life in prison for his conviction on attempted murder charges arising from Ovalle's 2008 attack on Ana Valdez with a 2-foot-tall crucifix.

"There is no doubt in this court's mind that you intended to kill Ms. (Ana) Valdez," Thompson said Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Ovalle attacked Valdez, with whom he has two young daughters, at her apartment in Takoma Park Dec. 21.

During the attack, which took place on the victim's 23rd birthday, Ovalle began choking Valdez before grabbing a crucifix weighing at least 5 pounds and beating her with it.

Takoma Park police officer Angela Donovan, who arrived at the Valdezes' apartment in response to a call of a woman crying, said she found Ovalle holding a knife to his girlfriend's throat.

Police said after Ovalle failed to respond to Donovan's demand he disarm himself, the officer shot him twice, the Post reported.