Dillon woman gets 40 years in prison for boyfriend's killing

DILLON (AP) — A Montana woman was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Tuesday for strangling her boyfriend with a rope during an argument after she said he threatened to call child protective services on a family member.

Sandy Rose Moore pleaded guilty in June to mitigated deliberate homicide for the January 2000 death of Larry Coon at a rental home they shared in Dillon. She said she knew what she was doing, but was under extreme duress because of the argument.

District Judge Luke Berger said he had no doubt that Moore, 21, had gone through tough times in her life and needed extensive mental-health treatment. But, he said, "you can't snap and kill someone," The Montana Standard reported.

Moore, who was 19 at the time of the killing, was initially charged with deliberate homicide. Under the plea agreement, Moore was charged with committing the offense "under the influence of extreme mental or emotional stress for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse."