Dalbert sentenced

After a day-and-a-half of emotional testimony Thursday, jurors took 30 minutes to sentence 31-year-old Rickey Dalbert to two life sentences for aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

Dalbert pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday in Judge Stacy Trotter's 244th District Court.

"We're glad that justice was done," Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said. "It's taken a while for this victim, who was nearly beaten to death, to get justice."

Defense attorney Michael McLeaish could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Dalbert's victim, cab driver Donna Diaz, took the stand Wednesday in the second two of Dalbert's trial, testifying through tears that Dalbert beat her severely after he and his accomplice, Cedric Taylor, kidnapped her in January 2005.

Diaz testified that she picked up Dalbert and Cedric Taylor, who also received two life sentences for his part in the crime in October 2006, at about 1 a.m. on Jan. 26, 2005, after she was dispatched to an address on Monahans Street.

The two then beat her before Dalbert wrecked the cab off Interstate 20. Truck driver Jesus Montoya witnessed the scene as he was driving by and helped Diaz to safety.

Dr. Kycengho Choi of Medical Center Hospital said Diaz was within an hour of dying by the time she arrived at the hospital.

AT A GLANCE:

>> Who: Rickey Dalbert.

>> What: Got two life sentences for aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the 2005 beating of cab driver Donna Diaz.

>> When: Jurors sentenced Dalbert Thursday.

>> Where: Judge Stacy Trotter's 244th District Court.