A habitual domestic violence offender from Montezuma Creek, Utah, was sentenced Thursday in Cortez to 18 months in state prison.

Cidro J. Begay, 31, pleaded guilty in with in 22nd Judicial District Court to third-degree assault causing injury and domestic violence habitual offender, a Class 5 felony. The conviction stems from a June 28 incident.

Begay was also arrested by Cortez police on July 20 and charged with domestic violence habitual offender, harassment charges and bond violations. The district attorney dismissed that case in exchange for a guilty plea in the June incident.

Public defender John Moran argued for a community corrections sentence, but Chief Judge Douglas Walker said this was a violent offense and Begay’s fourth domestic violence conviction.

Before sentencing, Begay told Walker that he was sorry and wants to be a responsible citizen. He asked for probation and said he doesn’t care how long – he said he would pass probation with “flying colors.”

sdolan@the-journal.com