Thursday, April 18, 2002 | 8:39 a.m.
As the two sobbing women took their turns on the witness stand to pour out their grief, 19-year-old Ricardo Macias stood in the jury box, his head bowed.
It wasn't until District Judge John McGroarty addressed him that Macias managed to lift his head.
"Sir," McGroarty called out from the bench Wednesday morning. "Are you proud of yourself? Look at the devastation you have created, the sorrow. A daughter will never kiss her mother again, and a mother is losing her son to prison. Why? Gangs. Gangs. Gangs."
Macias, who pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in the January 2001 shooting death of Esmeralda Martinez, 16, appeared before McGroarty Wednesday to find out if he was going to get a life sentence or a 20- to 50-year sentence.
According to prosecutors, Macias, accompanied by a group of other gang members, gunned Martinez down in the doorway of her home because she had bad-mouthed their gang.
McGroarty sentenced Macias to 20 years to life in prison after hearing from Martinez's mother and Macias' mother. Both women spoke through a Spanish-speaking interpreter.
Maria Macias and Macias' attorney, Kirk Kennedy, said a series of tragedies shortly upon the family's arrival in Las Vegas prompted Macias to begin hanging out with gangs and using drugs and alcohol.
Maria Macias said one of her sons was shot, her mother-in-law died and then her husband committed suicide.
"I ask God for forgiveness for my son," Maria Macias said. "We are not murderers. I don't think my son was 100 percent there ... He was not in his right mind."
Macias' mother said she understands what Esmeralda Martinez's mother is going through and feels sympathy for her.
Alma Martinez asked McGroarty for justice.
"I am suffering a lot. I also feel for the other mother because she's going to suffer too, but she can go visit her son and talk to him and I can't see my daughter," Martinez said.
Martinez said she has lost her daughter, her health and her house because of Macias' actions.
"I would like all people who belong to gangs to think twice," Martinez said.
Macias was the last of four defendants to be sentenced in connection with the case.
Isvi Fabila, 18, is serving 10 to 25 years in prison for her part in the case. Eduardo Cisneros, 17, received two to 10 years in prison and Miguel Jimenez-Arambula, 23, got two to eight years.
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