Man gets 10-year term in girl's death

Abuse - Armando Moreno-Garcia of Gresham declines to say anything in court

AIMEE GREEN

The Oregonian Staff

A 40-year-old Gresham man convicted of failing to seek medical attention to save his 2-year-old foster daughter's life was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison.

Armando Moreno-Garcia sat apparently emotionless and declined to say anything when given a chance, before being sentenced to the mandatory prison term laid out by Oregon law.

A 12-person Multnomah County jury found Moreno-Garcia guilty last week of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Keyana Bravo-Hamilton, who was beaten, burned and lost large clumps of hair from abuse in the months before her death on Sept. 4, 2006.

Moreno-Garcia, and his wife, Dunia Soledad Moreno, brought Keyana's cold and lifeless body to Mount Hood Medical Center. Medical staff and police immediately suspected child abuse.

During the seven-day trial last month, the state medical examiner testified that the girl had been battered over an extended period of time, and she died from blunt force trauma to her abdomen. The injury ruptured her bowel, leading to a slow and painful death over a few days.

Dunia Soledad Moreno was convicted earlier this year of first-degree manslaughter for failing to seek medical attention for Keyana and for the child abuse of Keyana's older sister, whom the couple was also caring for.

Prosecutors originally sought murder charges against Dunia, but dropped that charge because of lack of evidence and because Dunia was pointing blame at her husband, and her husband was pointing blame at his cousin. Judge Edward Jones said who killed Keyana will remain unknown, at least to some.

"I believe Mr. Moreno does know," Jones said. "I don't think someone could be in that house and not know. "

Amanda Hamilton, Keyana's biological aunt, stood up to thank deputy district attorney Jeff Howes for his work. She believes Keyana is at peace.

"I'm glad there is a God and we're relieved that Keyana will be protected by someone who will never let her be hurt again," Hamilton said.

Aimee Green: 503-294-5119; aimeegreen@news.oregonian.com