ROSEMEAD : Man Gets 15 Years to Life for Beating Child to Death

A man who beat his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter to death in a Rosemead motel room in February, 1991, was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison.

Anthony Sanchez, 30, was convicted March 13 in Pasadena Superior Court of second-degree murder in the death of Reylene Rodriguez. Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Nishinaka said the child was fatally injured in the Palm Motel while her mother, Valerie Edwards, 29, was in a deep sleep after a three-day drug binge.

“This child had injuries from the top of her head to the soles of her feet,” Nishinaka said. “She died suffering.”

Judge William Masterson imposed the maximum term, saying: “I wish I could have given you more.” Masterson also sentenced Sanchez to 18 years and 8 months for beating two of Edwards’ other seven children, and for the armed robbery of a Pomona restaurant, the prosecutor said. Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse, and was sentenced in March to six years in prison. Her children, ages 1 to 8, are in foster homes.