USA - California. Judge Ronald Coen sentenced Antonio Rodriguez to death

San Fernando Superior Court judge Ronald Coen sentenced Antonio Rodriguez to death for the sexual assault and murder of his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter. Judge Coen upheld a July 26 (see) death penalty recommendation by a jury. The same jury convicted the 29-year-old latino man on July 8 of eight counts in the 2004 death of Desarie Saravia, the daughter of his then-girlfriend, Debby Saravia. The counts included 1st-degree murder, sexual penetration, torture, corporal injury to a child and the abuse of both Desarie and her brother, Brian. The children were underfed, whipped, beaten and burned with cigarettes in the months that they had lived with Rodriguez. Desarie died Nov. 12, 2004, of multiple blunt force injuries to the intestines after she was beaten. Debbie Saravia, 32, is awaiting trial on charges that include murder and child abuse. If convicted, she faces life in prison.