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Carlos Heredia. Hererdia, 24, who was videotaped stabbing a California tourist in a Las Vegas Strip hotel elevator, was sentenced to two to five years in state prison today. Heredia apologized in court and told Clark County District Court Judge Michael Villani he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the 2 a.m. Feb. 16 attack at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, File)
LAS VEGAS » A 24-year-old man who was videotaped stabbing a California tourist in a Las Vegas Strip hotel elevator was sentenced today to two to five years in state prison.
Carlos Heredia offered a brief apology during sentencing before Clark County District Judge Michael Villani.
Heredia said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol in February when he stabbed Eric Miller in an elevator at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, and he now just wants to pursue his education.
Miller wasn’t present during sentencing and didn’t immediately respond afterward to messages seeking comment.
Heredia pleaded guilty in May to battery causing substantial bodily harm, a felony. Prosecutors dropped a felony attempted murder charge.
Elevator security video showed that Miller, then 43, and his wife, Diane Androvich, argued with Heredia and Trent Joseph Wilcox before Heredia stabbed Miller at least 11 times in the hand, shoulder and torso.
One sequence showed Androvich pushing Wilcox and kicking once at Heredia to get them out the door on the 31st floor, before one of the men places a foot in the door and both men re-enter.
Wilcox, 26, pleaded guilty in July to attempted battery with substantial bodily harm, a misdemeanor, for holding Miller during the early Feb. 16 attack.
Wilcox also received at least three wounds from stray blows from Heredia’s pocket knife, according to testimony.
Wilcox was released Nov. 16 from the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas after serving nine months of a one-year jail sentence. Police Officer Jose Hernandez said Wilcox was granted time off for work and good behavior while in custody.
According to testimony and evidence during a March preliminary hearing, everyone involved had been drinking and there was time for all parties to walk away before blood was shed.
