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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eagle Point fire destroys barn ... Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... Accused of buying meth, Shane Hagey no longer is Community Justice chief ... Eagle Point fire destroys barn ... Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... Accused of buying meth, Shane Hagey no longer is Community Justice chief ... SENTENCING Oregon man pleads guilty in ex-girlfriend's death, gets life term Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:32 PM By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:32 PM » Social News BEND — An Oregon man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a woman who broke up with him, a shooting that happened in front of her 5-year-old son. During a sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon, Mario Morataya apologized to the relatives of Rebekah Gomes, some of whom made statements to Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby, The Bend Bulletin reported. Morataya, 23, joined the Army after high school and met Gomes while stationed in Hawaii. They later moved to Redmond, Oregon. Gomes broke up with Morataya in early December. Morataya checked into a hotel after the breakup and took the woman's iPad, phone and wallet. On the night of Dec. 11, he came to the house to return her things and told her to come outside. Gomes left the house shortly before 9 p.m., prosecutor Drew Moore said. They talked in the car until she jumped out and fell to the ground, landing on her stomach. Morataya then shot her in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun he had purchased a week earlier, authorities said. He fled to Mitchell, a small town 60 miles away, where he was arrested. Defense attorney Jacques DeKalb said he was preparing the case for trial until Morataya learned the victim's 5-year-old son had witnessed the shooting. Then Morataya decided not to contest the charges. Gomes' family, including her father, Randy Wallace, spoke to the court about Gomes' life. The Wallaces adopted her from Japan when she was about 4 years old. "We don't hate Mr. Morataya," Randy Wallace said, citing his family's Christian faith. "He is our enemy, but we have been commanded to love him, and we forgive him." Other relatives described Gomes, a preschool teacher, as a beautiful person who adored her son. They condemned Morataya. Though sentenced to life, Morataya will be eligible for parole after 30 years. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:32 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501