A Corona man who admitted he hanged his young son in an Elmhurst hotel was sentenced Wednesday to 22 years to life for second-degree murder.

Juan Batista, 28, a former bodybuilder with a history of steroid abuse, was sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Robert Hanophy in Kew Gardens.

"The defendant admitted that he committed a terrible and shocking crime," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. "The sentence imposed by the court is more than warranted for taking the life of an innocent and helpless victim."

Batista, who had faced a maximum of 25 years to life if convicted at trial, pleaded guilty March 31, admitting that he hanged Omar Arias, 2, with an extension cord from a shower curtain rod in the Crown Motor Inn on July 26, 2003.

Batista blamed the death on steroids, failed relationships and suicide attempts. Prosecutors said he hanged his son in a jealous rage after he saw the boy's mother, his former girlfriend, with her new boyfriend.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Masters said the plea agreement was reached to spare the child's mother and her family "the ordeal of having to endure what would have been the overwhelming evidence of his guilt."

Batista's attorney, Murray Singer, had said his client sought to save the boy after trying to hang himself in the same room. He said Batista, whose father committed suicide when he was 12 years old, had intended to kill himself and did not want to leave the boy fatherless."

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No one deserves to be murdered. And for those that commit murder have no excuse.

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