By Nathan Duke
John Montanez, of 765 East 163rd St. in the Bronx, pleaded guilty to manslaughter Dec. 4 and was sentenced before Queens Supreme Court Justice Randall Eng Monday to 14 years in prison with no eligibility for parole, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. “The defendant has been punished for his actions in cutting short the life of a young man and leaving his family shattered by grief,” the DA said. “I hope the family finds solace in the knowledge that justice has been done.”The stabbing took place when Montanez and his brother got into a quarrel in which Cintron tried to intervene, just after 1:30 a.m. Jan. 1, 2006, police said.Montanez stabbed Carlos Cintron inside a Jeep SUV, which was parked near the corner of Cooper Avenue and 64th Place in Ridgewood, Brown said. Cintron, who was a passenger in the vehicle, attempted to break up the dispute between the two brothers and was stabbed, Brown said.”(He) attempted to act as peacemaker and in the process senselessly lost his life,” the DA said.Cintron was pronounced dead at the scene, making him the first citywide homicide victim of 2006, Brown said. Police said the three men had been drinking at the time of the dispute.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
