On Friday, Judge William Fuente sentenced tow truck company owner/driver, Donald Montanez, to 35 years in prison. Montanez was convicted of the January 8, 2006 shooting death of Glen Rich.

The jury earlier rejected a theory by prosecutors that Montanez acted with a depraved mind during a confrontation near the Sugar Shack Strip Club. Jurors also didn’t believe Montanez was acting in self defense as Rich was trying to get his car back from a towing drop site.

Montanez was found guilty of manslaughter and third-degree felony murder. The latter charge means a death was caused in the commission of a felony. The manslaughter conviction was later vacated.

On the night of the shooting, Montanez had directed his employees to tow Rich’s vehicle from behind the Sugar Shack Strip Club, where prosecutors said the car was legally parked. The car and others were taken to a nearby drop site that property owners said Montanez and his company were not authorized to use.

Prosecutors said the illegal tow amounted to grand theft, but the defense argued it was a misdemeanor or civil violation of towing statutes.

During the trial, witnesses testified Montanez pointed his laser-sited gun at several people who had walked to where the cars were being temporarily kept on their way to the impound lot.

Witnesses for the defense testified Rich was driving toward Montanez and his employees when Montanez fired the gun. Defense attorneys also argued that Montanez was in fear for his life and the lives of his employees and made a split-second decision.