Story Created:
Apr 17, 2006 at 4:45 PM AKDT
Story Updated:
Apr 17, 2006 at 6:33 PM AKDT
A former Nome police officer maintained his innocence today in the murder of 19-year-old Sonja Ivanoff.
A jury in December convicted Matthew Owens in the 19-year-old girl's death. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison today.
Owens addressed the court before he was sentenced. "I pleaded innocent from day one and that's not gonna change. I am not guilty," he said.
He said he knows the Ivanoff family suffers, but he's not the reason for it.
The victim's father, Larry Ivanoff, argued that Owens should never be released from jail. "My whole family still has a tough time with this. My wife is still crying on my shoulder. A person who has done such an awful thing should never be allowed to be in public again," he said.
Owens will be eligible for parole in 34 years. Owens' public defender, Steven Wells, said he would appeal.
After the courtroom cleared, the victim's tearful family members, friends and supporters silently hugged.
"I think finally we can move on. I'm thankful that no other family has to go through what we went through with him," said the victim's mother, Maggie Ivanoff.
Last year, the city of Nome settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against it by the Ivanoff family. Terms have not been disclosed.
