Robert Crisostomo pleaded guilty Friday to the second-degree murder of Jamie Martin while the victim's brother listened on a phone, waiting for the sentence of his brother's killer. 

"I believe the court should impose the maximum sentence against Mr. Crisostomo," Danny Martin said through a scratchy speaker phone. "My brother did nothing to deserve to die like this." 

Crisostomo, 20, of Rio Rancho killed Jamie Martin, who was recovering from cancer, in a gruesome December 2010 stabbing in his small apartment in the 800 block of Camino de Monte Rey off St. Francis Drive. 

State District Judge Michael Vigil sentenced Crisostomo to six years in prison after accepting a plea that reduced Crisostomo's charge from first- to second-degree murder. Nine years were suspended from a 15-year maximum penalty in accordance with a plea deal that raised issues of Crisostomo's mental health. 

According to police records, Crisostomo admitted to using a machete to attack Martin, 52. He then plunged a large knife into Martin's back before fleeing. 

Martin was said to be dead four days before a neighbor, who smelled a foul odor, called police to check on him. 

Police arrived to a bloody scene and found a shoe print in a puddle of blood. 

After calling Crisostomo in for questioning, a detective noticed the same pattern on the shoes Crisostomo was wearing. After being confronted on the match, Crisostomo confessed to the killing. 

"If I could say something to the family, I'd say I'm sorry," Crisostomo said in court Friday. "I know they don't want to hear that, but from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry. I know what I did was wrong and I am ready to pay the consequences." 

No family was present at the sentencing besides his brother on the phone. 

There was no evidence in court to explain why Crisostomo was at Martin's residence on Dec. 13, 2010. Police said after the incident that several items were stolen from his house and that Martin may have been trying to buy marijuana to relieve the pain from his cancer. 

Crisostomo was 19 when he killed Martin. Val Whitley, Crisostomo's defense attorney, said Crisostomo was abused as a child and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder at a young age. He added that before the slaying of Martin, Crisostomo had been on a four- or five-day drug binge. 

"He was in a drug-induced state," Whitley said, "even one of paranoia." 

Crisostomo had no prior felonies. 

Judge Vigil recommended that Crisostomo be enlisted in a mental-health facility while he serves his time. 

"I acknowledge the mental-health issues that you have," Judge Vigil said, "but I agree with [Danny] Martin that his brother did nothing to deserve to have his life taken like this." 

Crisostomo will be given credit for his one year of time served since the December 2010 stabbing. Because of the violent nature of the crime, he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. 

Contact Nico Roesler at 986-3089 or nroesler@sfnewmexican.com. 

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Here are two links to past articles in the case:

• Dec. 15, 2010: Police: Man says he used machete in killing 
• Feb. 14, 2011: Victim's relatives led out of court after murder hearing outburst