San Diego

A Logan Heights man who accidentally shot and killed a 10-year-old girl in the alley behind his house while he was target practicing received one year in County Jail on Thursday.

Jose Maldonado-Ruiz, 45, also was fined $700 and was placed on five years’ probation by San Diego Superior Court Judge Wayne Peterson. Maldonado is to to surrender Saturday.

Maldonado pleaded guilty Dec. 18 to involuntary manslaughter in the Sept. 27 death of Sonia Cano, who was on an errand for her mother when she was shot.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Gentry said the girl’s mother, who declined to speak in court, requested a state prison sentence. Gentry urged Peterson to give Maldonado four years in prison.

“It’s such a senseless, stupid tragedy. It’s a case where a person mixed alcohol with a gun,” said Gentry.

Maldonado’s wife and children watched the sentencing.

“He’s a deeply religious man. He has suffered greatly because of this,” argued his attorney, Jose Tafolla.

“This man has lived in hell since then. He feels people are talking about him. He holds his head in shame. He’s created his own hell, his own eternal prison.”

The defense attorney acknowledged that Maldonado “drank a lot the night before and the next morning” before the 11 a.m. shooting.

“This man has led a good life until now. I feel 100% sure he will never touch another firearm for the rest of his life,” said his attorney.