Irvin Ramirez Receives Maximum Sentence For Murder Of Adam Espinoza

A convicted murderer may spend the rest of his life in prison.

Irvin Ramirez, the 18-year-old found guilty for killing Adam Espinoza ? a 20-year-old San Antonio man, was sentenced Wednesday afternoon at the Dona Ana County District Courthouse. ABC-7 was the only El Paso television station inside the courtroom for the two-and-a-half hour sentencing.

Ramirez received the maximum punishment ? life in prison plus 10.5 years.

As the sentence was read, Espinoza?s family was crying in the courtroom. Espinoza?s sister, Genevieve Engelbrecht, told ABC-7 however, they were tears of joy, knowing there is a good chance Ramirez could die in prison.

?He took my brother’s life but I?m glad that the judge saw it fit to take away his life also; it was justice,” Engelbrecht said.

District Judge Jerald Valentine told Ramirez the court is, ?concerned about the callousness he showed for human life? and his complete indifference to the life of a young man, Adam Espinoza.?

When asked if Ramirez had any words to share prior to his sentence, he stood before Judge Valentine without any visible display of emotion.

“I’m saying that I do have remorse here today, your honor, and whatever sentence comes at me or whatever the number is, I’d like to take it like a man,? Ramirez said.

Judge Valentine told Ramirez it is difficult to give someone the maximum sentence but says Ramirez had been given chance after chance to change his life since the age of 13, when his criminal record started. Valentine said he wants to make sure Ramirez never has the opportunity to kill again.

It was nearly a month ago, Ramirez was convicted in the cold-blooded murder of Espinoza. He was found guilty for shooting Espinoza three times and robbing him, before he would eventually stuff Espinoza?s body in the trunk of his car and set it on fire.

Espinoza?s father, Ernesto, testified on his late son?s behalf.

“I tell you, this guy, he doesn’t deserve nothing,? Ernesto said. ?You see, his youth, maybe it’s got to do something with it, I was young, I made decisions, I made some wrong ones, but you know what, I never murdered somebody; this guy’s got no remorse; I tell you what, he planned everything – now you show me justice.”

The defense argued Ramirez was under the influence of drugs and alcohol that January 2010 night, and not in the right state of mind. The defense also argued the system let Ramirez down and led him to this point, but he, ?still has an opportunity to become a better man.?

The prosecutor said he has never heard of a case where someone was, ?thrown away like a piece of trash.?

“25-years I?ve practiced law, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more horrific, senseless, unexplainable act of inhumanity to a person of such a slight character, such a slight build as in Adam Espinoza,” Prosecutor Scot Key said.

In the state of New Mexico, a life sentence is 30-years in prison. After fulfilling this obligation, Ramirez will serve another 10.5 years, which means he may not be eligible, if at all, to leave prison until he is almost 60-years-old.

Two other defendants in the same murder case are still awaiting separate trials.