San Diego

Francisco Uriarte was sentenced Wednesday to 38 years to life for killing two people and attempting to kill two others.

At the sentencing, Superior Court Judge Bernard Revak reduced a first-degree murder charge to second-degree.

Uriarte was convicted March 10 of murdering Jeff Constantino, 37, and his wife, Nancy, 36, who were visiting a friend and neighbor of Uriarte.

Uriarte, 33, went to the apartment of John Alva on Oct. 15, 1987, looking for his wife, who he believed was being held captive there. She actually was in a Tijuana hospital.

After he was told she was not there, Uriarte, who was under the influence cocaine and alcohol, left but returned to Alva’s apartment with a gun.

He opened fire on Jeff Constantino and then his wife, killing both. He then shot Alva, who was attempting to flee.

After leaving the scene, Uriarte shot another man, Tom Eberwein.

Uriarte’s attorney, Athena Shudde, argued during the penalty phase of the trial that Uriarte was insane, but the jury disagreed.