CASPER — A man who blurted out “I killed somebody” in a court hearing was sentenced to 62 years to life in prison for strangling a drunk man to death with a telephone cord in a local motel last year.
Natrona County District Court Judge Daniel Forgey imposed the sentence on James Mavigliano, 44, on Thursday.
Following a three-day trial, a jury in December convicted Mavigliano of second-degree murder for killing Chance Arias, 28.
Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen highlighted Mavigliano’s statements brought out at trial as well as his criminal record and asked the judge for 75 years to life.
In asking for the maximum sentence, Itzen reminded the court that the trial showed Arias was highly intoxicated on the night of his death and was in no condition to be a threat to Mavigliano, even though his attorneys tried to use a self-defense argument during the trial.
“He didn’t let go until he heard the air let out of that young man’s body,” Itzen said. “The defendant landed the first blow, the middle blow and the last blow.”
Video evidence introduced at trial showed Mavigliano telling police it was when he got up to leave Arias’ room at the Topper Motel in Casper that Arias blocked his way and then lowered his shoulder as if to swing on him.Â
Mavigilano told police he then moved into Arias and punched him, hit him with a lamp, and then used the lamp cord to strangle him.
“This was unbridled aggression,” Itzen told the court Thursday.
Itzen said Maviliano’s statements at trial that Arias would not stop fighting only showed that “Chance had the audacity to fight for his life as a cord is wrapped around his throat.”
Prior Record
Prior to killing Arias, Itzen said since he’s been in Wyoming, Mavigliano had 10 misdemeanor convictions, and prior to that faced an attempted murder and robbery charge in Alabama.
He also told the court that while he was awaiting trial last year, Mavigliano got into a fight at the Natrona County jail.
Defense attorney Steve Mink told the court that Mavigliano just wanted to leave the motel March 5, 2024, and that even though he was convicted by the jury for the killing, the jury may have thought Mavigliano’s actions were self-defense at the start and then he just carried things too far.
“My client is remorseful,” Mink said. “He does have regrets, he knows he needs to be punished.”
Mink asked the judge to consider a 20- to 50-year term.
Mavigliano told the court that he knew his “mistake” and that his actions “under the influence of the drugs I was on — it was not right.”
“I tear myself up because of the pain I caused this family,” he said. “I sincerely apologize to this family,” he said. “I’m just going to accept the punishment … If I could go back, I would change things, but I can’t.”
Arias’ family were in the courtroom and were warned by a deputy not to say anything in court. Following the jury verdict in December, a member of the family cursed Mavigliano.
Forgey gave Mavigliano credit for 353 days served in jail already and ordered him to pay $5,189 in restitution. Mavigliano also had been tried and convicted of a charge of possession of a controlled substance and was given credit for time served on that charge.
A man who identified himself as Joe Thompson, Arias’ father, said he believed justice was served by the sentence.
“Vengeance comes next,” he said.
Evidence at trial showed that Mavigliano had been invited to Arias’ room by a female friend of Mavigliano who had been staying with Arias.
The prosecution characterized Mavigliano’s visit as going from a welcome guest to someone who disrespected Arias by pulling out a meth pipe and smoking it in the room. Testimony from motel owners at trial showed Arias had been reminded by the motel owners about having guests in his room as well as the no-smoking rule.
Mavigliano first self-identified as taking Arias’ life when on March 6, 2024, the day after the incident, he blurted out at a court probation hearing, “I killed somebody.”
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Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
