Man sentenced to 20 to 50 years in fatal shooting in trailer

By Matt Pordum

Friday, April 1, 2005 | 9:06 a.m.

District Judge Valorie Vega on Thursday sentenced 65-year-old Joe Armstead to 20 to 50 years in prison for second-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon Thursday for killing a 48-year-old man.

Vega followed the Department of Parole and Probation's recommendation in sentencing Armstead.

During the trial Armstead said he shot David "Indian Dave" Leal in self-defense at Leal's home at Desert Paradise Mobile Home Park, 4070 Las Vegas Blvd. North, in July.

Prosecutors argued Armstead went to Leal's trailer on the day of his death to collect a debt, and when Leal refused to pay up, Armstead killed him. Four eyewitnesses' testimony bolstered the prosecution's case.

Armstead, however, said that Leal came after him with a gun, which accidentally went off twice, sending one bullet into Leal's upper left chest.

In a brief statement to Vega, Armstead said he never intended for Leal to die.

"We have two devastated families as a result of this," Armstead said. "It was not my intention to get to this point today."

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lee didn't urge Vega to sentence Armstead to more prison time because of his lack of any criminal history but did point out Armstead "was still denying" he did anything wrong even after being convicted.

Leal's family members were in court for sentencing but decided not to speak.