Paso Robles woman sentenced to 21 years to life

January 23, 2015

A Paso Robles woman convicted in a murder for hire case received a 21 years to life prison sentence on Thursday. [Tribune]

Last month, a San Luis Obispo jury convicted Maria del Carmen Granados Fajardo of second-degree murder in the death of her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Victor Sanchez. Prosecutors described Fajardo as a jealous lover.

The Paso Robles woman allegedly paid to have Sanchez brutally injured on multiple occasions after he became entangled with other women. In February 2013, assailants tasked with shooting Sanchez in the knee ended up killing him.

The jury also convicted Fajardo of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. She received a six-year sentence for the first attack, which included five years for robbery and one for assault.

Judge Michael Duffy sentenced Fajardo to 15 years to life for the murder conviction. He said the evidence against her was overwhelming.

When offered a chance to speak, Fajardo said through an interpreter that she maintains her innocence until the last day.

Though Fajardo’s trial concluded, the murder case remains open. Four suspects in the fatal shooting are believed to be hiding in Mexico.

Prosecutors remain unsure why the shooting turned fatal.