Mendiola brother sentenced to 8 years
October 31, 2003
The brother of two UW women's basketball stars will spend the rest of this decade in an Idaho state prison.
Idaho First District Judge John T. Mitchell sentenced Giovanni Mendiola, 33, to a minimum of eight years in prison, after which he will be eligible for parole. Mendiola pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Brendan Butler, 20. He was charged with first-degree murder.
The agreement apparently saved Mendiola's sisters, Gioconda and Giuliana, from the possibility of being prosecuted, according to the Associated Press (AP). Mendiola was living with his sisters in Seattle when Butler was stabbed to death Oct. 11, 2002, near Hayden Lake, Idaho.
Bill Douglas, Kootenai County, Idaho, prosecutor, said the sisters were not involved in any illegal activities related to the crime, the AP reported. Douglas did not return calls made by The Daily yesterday.
After eight years, a parole board will determine whether Mendiola can leave prison.
At Wednesday's sentencing, Mendiola apologized for the murder. He implied he was defending himself when Butler apparently pulled a gun on Mendiola during an argument, according to the AP. Mendiola's sisters testified on his behalf. Women's basketball coach June Daugherty and members of the team sent letters in Mendiola's behalf to court, the AP reported.
Mendiola's brothers Piero Mendiola, 31, and Eddie Mendiola, 34, and brother-in-law Antonio Garcia, 31, were sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison last month after pleading guilty to being accessories to the felony.
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