Soria Jr. sentenced to life in prison for Tahoe child’s death

Tuesday, July 25, 2000 | 10:12 a.m.

Lawyers for Soria, 19, sought a lighter sentence, saying he couldn't have known that Krystal Steadman would be raped and killed. His father, Thomas Soria Sr., 39, could get a death sentence if convicted.

Soria Sr. is charged with kidnapping, rape and murder. Jury selection for the father's trial starts Jan. 17. He also faces a second trial later in 2001 for the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

Douglas County District Judge Dave Gamble said the idea of a lighter sentence that might enable the son to eventually be paroled was "unthinkable" to him.

Soria Jr., who pleaded guilty earlier to avoid a possible death sentence, got a no-parole life term for murder, plus a consecutive life term with possible parole for kidnapping.

That means he'll never go free, unless he manages to eventually get his sentenced eased by the Nevada Pardons Board and then petition the separate Nevada Parole Board.

Soria apologized to the victim's family, saying, "I'm deeply sorry for what happened. Every day I will hold this burden in my conscience."

Steadman was killed March 19. Police found her nude body a day later, down a highway embankment about 20 miles from where she disappeared.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge watched a videotape of an FBI agent's interview of Soria. During the interview, Soria told how his father sexually abused him for years and got him to procure girls for him.

The son's lawyers, Mark Jackson and Tod Young, argued that in the past the father had only sought to get into relationships with girls, so there was no way Soria Jr. could have known what would happen to Steadman.

Soria wiped tears from his eyes at times as the videotape was played, but showed no visible emotion as he was sentenced. About a dozen family members, including the victim's separated parents, applauded lightly.

"I think it's fantastic," the victim's sister, Sonya Klempner of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., said later.

"It's what we want," added the victim's grandfather, Leslie Bucknell.