MIAMI -- A woman convicted for her role in the killing of a Coral Gables doctor and his son learned her sentence on Tuesday.Maria Catabay was convicted in May of armed burglary in connection with the killings of her former boss, Dr. Paul Jarrett, and his son. The men were found fatally shot in their Coral Gables home nearly six years ago.
Catabay was sentenced to 30 years in prison, despite her youngest daughter's pleas to the judge.
"Knowing she might not be there for the most important things in my life, like getting married, giving birth, just breaks my heart," said Yvonna Catabay.
The judge imposed a sentence 10 years longer than state corrections workers had recommended.
"We see tragedies every day in this courthouse. This is as much as you're going to see," said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Stanford Blake.
When the judge announced her sentence, Maria Catabay sat still, but her children wept and rushed from the courtroom.
Maria Catabay, who had managed Jarrett's office, admitted to stealing from him, and to cover her tracks, prosecutors said she got her boyfriend and his hire to break into his home and steal an incriminating letter, Local 10's Glenna Milberg reported.
Maria Catabay could have been sentenced to life in prison. A jury convicted her of armed burglary but acquitted her of first-degree murder, although the law considers a death in the commission of a felony eligible for a first-degree murder charge.
Blake said that although Maria Catabay did not physically pull the trigger, she is just as responsible for the killings.
"The community was shocked, outraged when this crime occurred. Today, the community, through Judge Blake, spoke back," said prosecutor David Waksman.
Maria Catabay's attorney said she would appeal the sentence as too harsh for a first-time offender.
"We did the best case we could. We presented the best argument at sentencing we could. The court did not see it like that. I certainly hope an appellate court will," said Lorna Owens, Maria Catabay's attorney.
The suspected triggerman hired by Maria Catabay’s boyfriend was convicted and is now serving two life sentences. Her boyfriend, Juan Carlos Fernandez, has not yet gone to trial.
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