A man who won the right to represent himself for murdering a 92-year-old woman in her National City home ended up Monday presenting almost no evidence before he was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison.
The family of Maria Consuelo Rivera gathered Monday to witness the sentencing of Peter Thao, 27, who asked unsuccessfully to delay it.
“Thanks to all who made this day of reckoning possible,” said Cecilia Aguilar, one of the victim’s daughters, as she read the names of detectives and officers of the National City Police Department who investigated the case.
Thao fired his public defender Aug. 16 and won the right to represent himself by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Ana Espana, who had warned him she would not delay the sentencing.
Thao attempted to make a motion to withdraw his June 8 guilty pleas to first-degree murder and residential burglary, but did not file or sign the document correctly.
Thao met in chambers with Espana and Deputy District Attorney C.J. Mody and did not state a legal reason why his guilty pleas should be withdrawn. Espana said it was Thao’s burden to show why his guilty pleas should be withdrawn and he didn’t come up with sufficient information.
In open court, Espana asked Thao if he wanted to say anything before sentencing, and he declined.
Thao received 25 years to life for murder plus six years for residential burglary of Rivera’s home on Oct. 22, 2016.
She ordered Thao to pay $5,205.82 to the California Victims Compensation Board for funeral expenses and fined him $10,332. Espana gave him credit for serving 280 days in jail.
Cecilia Aguilar told Thao “you will wear the badge of shame” for killing her mother, whom she described as “a helpless 92-year-old woman.”
“You have inflicted a lifetime of damage,” said Aguilar.
“Long live the democratic courts of justice,” concluded Aguilar, who also thanked the District Attorney’s Office and other agencies which helped her family.
Mody said Thao followed Rivera home after she left a bus that came from an East County casino. He broke inside her home around 6 p.m. in the 1100 block of D Avenue in National City.
Mody said Thao knocked her down, punched her, and struck her head 4-5 times. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Thao, of Mira Mesa, was arrested Nov. 10 by National City Police.
Maria Rivera had five children, 14 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She lived in National City for 40 years.
