Daniel Robbins stands before Judge Robert Lane Monday in District Court to hear his sentence for shooting to death 21-year-old Chris Mundy in August 2011. Lane handed down a 22 years to life sentence.

By Matt Ward
Pahrump Valley Times

Emotions ran high in District Court in Pahrump as a judge handed down a hefty sentence to a man convicted of killing his daughter’s boyfriend in 2011.

Daniel Robbins, 47, was convicted of second degree murder among other serious felony charges in November.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, District Court Judge Robert Lane gave the man 10 years to life on the second degree murder charge, a sentence of eight to 20 years for using a gun, and four to 10 years for battery with a deadly weapon, all to run consecutive to one another. Two other sentences, one to four years each, will run concurrent, meaning at the same time as the other sentences. Robbins was given credit for 572 days already served in the county jail.

Robbins will likely spend at least 22 years behind bars for shooting and killing Chris Mundy, a 21-year-old man who was dating one of Robbins’ daughters at the time of the Aug. 18, 2011 incident. Robbins was also punished for injuring a then-14-year-old boy named Pablo Flores, who was with Mundy the night of the shooting.

A cadre of Nye County Sheriff’s deputies were in the courtroom to maintain control over the crowd that showed up to watch the hearing. Family members on both sides openly wept as both defense and prosecuting attorneys delivered their recommendations to Lane.

The hearing opened with Lane denying a defense motion for a new trial. Defense attorney Arnold Weinstock argued for the minimum sentence in the case — 10 to 25 years — saying that Robbins had no criminal history and that Mundy provoked the attack by showing up at Robbins’ Pahrump home in the middle of the night after being warned to stay away.

“It wasn’t a situation where Mr. Robbins went out looking for someone to hurt,” Weinstock argued. “It all could have been avoided if Mr. Mundy had not shown up.”

County prosecutor Tierra Jones argued the opposite, saying the tragedy could have been avoided had Robbins simply not gone outside with a loaded gun and confronted the young man, perhaps choosing to call the police instead. She said Robbins’ reckless behavior cried out for punishment.

“Judge, he hasn’t even shown remorse for what he did,” she told the court.

Robbins read a statement before he was sentenced. He thanked his family and friends for standing by him — more than 30 people sent letters of support on his behalf to the court. He also said he regretted the tragedy and the pain it has caused his family.

Before handing down the sentence, Lane told Robbins that he thought the man’s behavior was “outrageous.”

“I have to concur with the state that society needs to know this won’t be tolerated,” he said. “I sat through the trial and know the jury made the right decision.”

After the sentencing, Dan Winder, another of Robbins’ defense attorneys, said he was disappointed with the harsh sentence. Robbins is appealing his conviction.

“I just hope someday soon he will be a free man again,” Winder said.

Look for more complete coverage of Robbins’ sentencing hearing in Wednesday’s Pahrump Valley Times.