A 35-year-old woman who shot and killed her boyfriend on March 13, 2019, in Pocono Township, was sentenced to 18-40 years in state prison on Tuesday by Monroe County President Judge Margherita Patti-Worthington.

Sandra Delvalle, who was allowed by the Veterans Administration to serve as “caretaker” for Joevandie Latorre, 41, a veteran who served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, learned her fate in jail for her conviction last August on a charge of third-degree murder.

The case was tried by Monroe County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso, who represented the Commonwealth during the sentencing proceedings.

The killing took place in a home Delvalle and Latorre shared in the township, where Delvalle shot the victim in the chest with a semi-automatic handgun she purchased several months before. She claimed to the investigators he was attacking her with a knife at the time she killed him. The jury rejected that self-defense claim.

Pre-sentencing details provided the court Tuesday showed Delvalle was taught de-escalation techniques and assured the VA that there were no firearms in the home. Latorre, officials said, suffered from PTSD due to having seen extensive combat during his overseas tours.

In addressing the court as to what sentence would be appropriate, Mancuso noted the law provides a wide range time, from a low of 6 to 12 years to a high of 20 to 40 years. He asked the judge to sentence Delvalle in the upper end of the range. He told the judge the jury didn’t believe the defendant’s testimony of self-defense, noting her description of the events were refuted by a careful examination of the crime scene and of the fatal gunshot wound.

Mancuso argued Delvalle “makes stuff up,” recalling her testimony and comparing it with the actual facts brought up at trial. He also cited discrepancies in the expert’s report and the actual records of the case.

The prosecuting attorney read out loud numerous episodes documenting the defendant’s history of violence, starting with her beating her then 4-year-old child with a belt, threatening to kill a social worker, assaulting several different boyfriends prior to her relationship with Latorre, and assaulting and threatening at least half a dozen female inmates since her incarceration on the homicide charges.

Several members of Latorre’s family, including his elderly mother and his daughter, described the effect the murder of their loved one had on them.

The defense called a mitigation expert, Dr. Deborah Belknap, who testified the case should be considered in the mitigated range (5 years minimum) based on evidence the defendant was traumatized as a child and was in an abusive relationship with Latorre.

Prior to being sentenced, the defendant spoke on her own behalf, reading from a handwritten statement. At times during her statement, Delvalle became angry, tearful, and raised her voice. She apologized to Latorre’s mother for killing her son. She also blamed the system, the Veteran’s Administration, the victim’s family, and law enforcement claiming no help came when she reached out.

Before delivering the sentence, the judge noted the horrendous record of assaults and other misconducts at the jail. The judge noted it wasn’t just during the adjustment period but even continues the present.

The jurist addressed the impact the killing has had on both families, but said the impact of the murder all comes from the defendant’s “own hand,” saying, he “has only herself to blame.”

Mancuso thanked Detective Sgt. James Wagner and Det. Earl Ackerman of the Pocono Township Police Department in pursuing the charges to secure a just result. He also thanked District Attorney Det. Sgt. Wendy Serfass for work on the case.