STOCKTON, Calif. -- A Tracy, Calif., man was sentenced Monday to 18 years 8 months to life in state prison for torturing a teenage boy at his neighbors' home.
Anthony Waiters, 31, who was convicted in November, maintained his innocence Monday before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Terrence Van Oss pronounced his sentence. He told the court he was innocent and that he has love and respect for "Mr. Kyle" and his family.
"I'm not a malevolent person," said Waiters, who told the court he had been dumbfounded by the verdict. "I believe I'm altruistic."
A jury found Waiters guilty of torture, two counts of aggravated mayhem and six other charges for physically abusing Kyle Ramirez. Kyle was 16 years old when he escaped from the Tennis Lane home of Waiters' neighbors on Dec. 1, 2008. He ran to a nearby gym begging for a place to hide. He was emaciated, bloody, burned, scarred, and wore only a chain around his ankle and a torn pair of boxer shorts.
Kyle was kept at the home of Kelly Lau and Michael Schumacher. His then-guardian Caren Ramirez brought him there sometime in 2007 and later moved in with the Schumachers, who were friends of a friend.
Those three did not go to trial. They accepted plea deals from the District Attorney's Office and will each serve at least 30 years in prison.
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(c) 2011, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).
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