CHEYENNE - A judge sentenced a Cheyenne man to 70 years to life in prison for the death of an infant girl.

Twenty-four-year-old Alan Sandoval pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July.

Thirteen-month-old Ariana Martin was the daughter of Elisha Martin, who was Sandoval's girlfriend. Sandoval had admitted throwing the baby on a bathroom floor in the couple's apartment April 17.

"Please, your honor, please don't let him have a chance to hurt another family like he has done to mine," Martin asked District Judge Edward Grant in court Wednesday.

She held up a photograph of the infant's headstone.

"This is all I have left of my daughter," she said.

Sandoval's attorney, Mitch Guthrie, sought a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, saying Sandoval likely would face assaults by other inmates in prison. He also asked Grant to consider Sandoval's acceptance of responsibility.

"I ask you give Mr. Sandoval and his family hope - hope that is not meritorious, hope that is not deserved and hope that is not available to Ariana's family," Guthrie said.

District attorney Scott Homar described Sandoval swinging the infant and breaking a crib rail with the girl's head.

"He beat this baby to death and beyond," Homar said. "He had to kick her around the room; he had to slam her into furniture."

Grant handed down the sentence Homar sought.