Teen-ager gets life in prison for teacher's death

DENVER - A 15-year-old boy was convicted of murder Friday and sentenced to life in prison for the New Year's Day death of a teacher allegedly beaten for the keys to her Lexus.

Lorenzo Montoya, who was charged as an adult, was acquitted of first-degree murder in the slaying of 29-year-old Emily Johnson. But the Denver District Court jury convicted him of felony murder, aggravated robbery, first-degree burglary and aggravated motor vehicle theft.

Defense attorney Kurt Metsger said he plans to appeal the verdict.

Johnson, who taught special education and coached basketball at Skinner Middle School, was beaten unconscious with a rock and shoe. She died the next day.

Montoya, a student at Johnson's school at the time, told police he and two others, 16-year-old cousins Nicholas Martinez and Lloyd Martinez, went to Johnson's home in northwestern Denver to steal her 1994 car.

Nicholas Martinez, whose trial is set for February, told police he stole the Lexus but has denied any involvement in the beating. Charges against Lloyd Martinez were dropped after statements by Montoya were ruled inadmissible because his mother wasn't present when police interrogated him.

''This is as sad for me as it is for the kid who just got put away,'' said Johnson's sister Marcy Johnson. ''It's not easy seeing another life destroyed.''