Lancaster man given life sentence for killing wife, setting fire to home

Lancaster man sentenced to life in prison for killing wife, setting fire to home

A Lancaster man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for killing his wife and setting his family’s home on fire in 2010, according to the district attorney’s office.Carlos Montalvo-Rivera, 55, was previously convicted of first-degree murder, arson, risking catastrophe and three counts of attempted criminal homicide.Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered the mandatory life imprisonment for first-degree murder plus 20 to 40 years. Montalvo-Rivera also owes $116,975.28 in restitution.Montalvo-Rivera claimed intruders broke into his home, killed Olga Sanchez and set fire to the residence in retaliation for the victim’s brother, who had cooperated with the DEA in an unrelated case.”The lame story you concocted and continued to hold on to simply didn’t hold any water,” Reinaker told Montalvo-Rivera. “The jury didn’t believe you, and I think that’s how it should be.”The jury agreed with the prosecution that Montalvo-Rivera killed Sanchez, poured gasoline up the steps and into her bedroom and set the house on fire while their three children were on the third floor. He then snuck out a door on the first floor, tied himself up and attempted to create a story to cover his tracks, prosecutors said.

A Lancaster man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for killing his wife and setting his family’s home on fire in 2010, according to the district attorney’s office.

Carlos Montalvo-Rivera, 55, was previously convicted of first-degree murder, arson, risking catastrophe and three counts of attempted criminal homicide.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered the mandatory life imprisonment for first-degree murder plus 20 to 40 years. Montalvo-Rivera also owes $116,975.28 in restitution.

Montalvo-Rivera claimed intruders broke into his home, killed Olga Sanchez and set fire to the residence in retaliation for the victim’s brother, who had cooperated with the DEA in an unrelated case.

“The lame story you concocted and continued to hold on to simply didn’t hold any water,” Reinaker told Montalvo-Rivera. “The jury didn’t believe you, and I think that’s how it should be.”

The jury agreed with the prosecution that Montalvo-Rivera killed Sanchez, poured gasoline up the steps and into her bedroom and set the house on fire while their three children were on the third floor. He then snuck out a door on the first floor, tied himself up and attempted to create a story to cover his tracks, prosecutors said.