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Man Sentenced For Attack On Australian Tourist
March 17, 2009
SAN DIEGO -- One of two transients who attacked an Australian tourist with a skateboard before the victim was dragged into a smoldering fire pit at Ocean Beach was sentenced Monday to two years in state prison.
Francisco Antonio Montoya, 47, pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to assault with a deadly weapon.
Judge David Danielsen ordered the defendant to make $2,091 in restitution to the victim, Robert Schneider.
Montoya could have faced life in prison if convicted of torture and aggravated mayhem, which were dismissed as part of a plea bargain reached with prosecutors.
Co-defendant Damian Maple, 22, pleaded guilty last month to attempted murder and assault and will get 14 years in prison when he is sentenced April 15.
Schneider, 26, an Australian electrician traveling the world, was attacked around 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2008.
A witness told police that during an argument, Schneider threw sand in Montoya's face. About 15 minutes later, Montoya threw sand back at Schneider, then punched him and repeatedly hit him in the head with a skateboard.
The witness said Maple egged Montoya on, and then started hitting Schneider with the skateboard before dragging the unconscious man into a fire pit.
The witness said he pulled Schneider out of the pit, but Maple scooped up some hot coals and dumped them on the victim's stomach, then pushed Schneider's head into the sand.
Schneider ended up with cuts to his forehead, burns on his back and torso, a broken eye socket and wrist and crushed skull.
Maple also admitted to attacking Justin Heyes at Dog Beach on Feb. 9, 2008.
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