A Colorado jury has convicted a 33-year-old father of child abuse after his 22-month-old daughter died from ingesting fentanyl.
Colorado's 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason's office announced the conviction of Alonzo Montoya, who was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and extortion.
Montoya's 22-month-old daughter, Aviyana Montoya, was found inside her Brighton home on Jan. 2, 2022, after ingesting 10 times the amount of fentanyl needed to kill an adult user, police said. died in
Prosecutors say the infant was placed in a crib around midnight on Jan. 2 and no one checked on her for 14 hours.
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Alonzo Montoya was convicted of child abuse after his 22-month-old daughter died from ingesting fentanyl. (Adams County Sheriff's Office)
When Aviyana's parents eventually went to check on her, she was unresponsive and when paramedics arrived, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation conducted by Brighton Police and the North Metro Task Force revealed that Alonzo Montoya was removing drugs from his home and was involved in drug dealing and drug use at the residence before, during, and after his daughter's death. was captured on video surveillance.
Police said that on the night of Aviyana's death, surveillance showed the toddler playing on the bed in the master bedroom, where she had been using drugs.
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Aviyana Montoya died in 2022 after ingesting fentanyl. (Office of the Adams County Attorney's Office)
Police also said the toddler had objects in and around his mouth as he was teething.
Montoya was indicted by an Adams County grand jury on September 22, 2022, on charges of first-degree murder, pattern of extortion, conspiracy to commit racketeering, child abuse resulting in death, and child abuse with disclosure of controlled substance manufacturing activities. . , and child abuse related to another of his children.
However, on December 11, 2022, a county judge dismissed the murder charge, arguing that Montoya did not “intentionally” kill the infant.
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Stock photo of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. (Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee/Tribune News Service, Getty Images)
Still, Montoya's trial began, and on January 8, 2024, the jury heard testimony from police officers, special committee members, toxicology experts, and doctors, and after two days of deliberations, the remaining Montoya was found guilty on all charges.
“This defendant conducted a large-scale drug operation while two children were present, one of whom is now deceased,” Mr Mason said. “This helpless child, who was teething at the time of his death, had ingested fentanyl that the defendant was selling and had long-term exposure to methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs. This is one of the most outrageous incidents ever.
“My heart breaks for this girl who really didn't have a chance,” the prosecutor added.
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Montoya is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4.
Aviyana's mother, Nicole Cassias, 32, has been charged with the same charges and is scheduled to go to trial on March 11.
