The last of the three people arrested in the death of 19-year-old Saloman Adolfo Mendoza were sentenced today. Derrick William Blake, 33, of Lakewood, was sentenced to 54 years in prison. Angela Christine Sanders, 33, of Thornton, was on her first day of parole in a five-year prison sentence for unrelated drug conviction when she committed this offense. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison consecutive to the five year prison sentence, for a total of 17 years.
Blake, Sanders and co-defendant Philip Frank Montano, 21, of Denver, were arrested by Lakewood police on February 11, 2009, following a high-speed chase that ended in Denver near I-25 and Santa Fe. Montano was throwing bloody clothes and shoes out of the car window as they tried to outrun police. The chase almost ended when Angela Sanders, who was driving, hit a pole and crashed the car. Montano ran from the car to a nearby restaurant. He was chased by officers and arrested.
Other officers approached Sanders and Blake, still in the car, in an attempt to take them into custody. Sanders then sped away, nearly hitting the police officers as they walked toward her car. Denver police joined in the pursuit and ultimately their car was forced to a stop.
The body of Saloman Mendoza was found in the trunk of the car. He had been shot in the head at close range.
Earlier in the evening, Mendoza had been at a party at 233 S. Ingalls Street, in Lakewood, when he was shot to death by the Derrick Blake. Blake and Montano loaded Mendoza’s body into the trunk of Angela Sanders’ car. The trio were about to leave the apartment when the police arrived and the chase began. Police did not know Mendoza’s body was in the trunk until they were stopped and arrested.
Montano pled guilty to Accessory to Murder and Reckless Manslaughter. He was sentenced to 24 years prison on August 18.
On October 9, Blake pled guilty to Second Degree Murder, Menacing, Eluding, Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Angela Sanders pled guilty to Vehicular Eluding on October 19.
