Painter gets life in prison for shooting San Diego TV anchor in money dispute
A house painter was sentenced to 38 years and 8 months to life in prison Wednesday for shooting and nearly killing Kyle Kraska, a CBS News 8 sports director, among other charges.
Mike Montana, 55, had been found guilty by a jury of premeditated attempted murder and of two counts of making criminal threats to two other people unrelated to the 2015 shooting.
“Whatever one believes may have contributed to Mr. Montana’s state of mind in attacking Mr. Kraska, there is no doubt in my view that he was then and is now a danger to society,” said San Diego County Superior Court Judge Michael Smyth while imposing the sentence.
Kraska testified that he had hired Montana to paint his Scripps Ranch home in October 2014, but he said Montana never finished the job and damaged his property in the process.
Kraska said he had given Montana $800 in advance, but refused to pay the rest. Montana repeatedly asked for more money, eventually leaving a note on his doorstep that read, “It’s in your best interest to pay me the money you owe me.”
About a week later, on Feb. 10, 2015, Montana showed up at Kraska’s house, blocked in Kraska’s car with his van, and walked up to the driver’s side window, where the TV anchor was sitting. Kraska testified that he heard Montana say, “You should have paid me my $2,200,” and then gunshots.
The victim was shot at least four times, including twice in the chest.
Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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