Montano gets 24 years in Lakewood shooting death

 JEFFERSON COUNTY – A man who admitted his role in the February shooting death of a man after a confrontation at a Lakewood apartment faces 24 years in prison.

Phillip F. Montano, 21, was sentenced Tuesday to two 12-year terms to be served consecutively on charges of manslaughter and being an accessory to a crime. The sentences, handed down by District Judge Stephen Munsinger, are the maximum for each of the two Class 4 felony charges.

Montano pleaded guilty to the charges in June, admitting his role in the death of Saloman A. Mendoza, 19, whose body was found in the trunk of a Toyota after a car chase that covered parts of Lakewood and Denver.

Montano was arrested as he fled on foot after the car slid out of control near the intersection of South Santa Fe Drive and West Alameda Avenue in Denver. Two other suspects – Derrick W. Blake, 32, and Angela C. Saunders, 33 – were arrested after the car crashed into a guardrail at the Interstate 25 service road.

Police initially were called about a shooting at the apartment in the 200 block of South Ingalls Street. When they arrived, police saw the Toyota leaving the scene. The Toyota failed to stop when pursued by Lakewood police and Denver officers joined the chase when the car entered Denver.

Sanders and Blake are expected in court in September for motions hearings.