Alpine

A Harbison Canyon man who beat a woman to death and left her body on the Viejas Indian Reservation was sentenced Monday to 15-years-to-life in state prison.

The parents of Lisa Arnold watched as San Diego Superior Court Judge Richard Huffman sentenced their daughter’s killer, Jeffrey Antone Langnese, 37, to prison.

Huffman, who noted that Langnese’s occupation involved selling illegal drugs, denied a defense request to order a diagnostic study. He also fined him $1,000.

Langnese pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Arnold, 27, of El Cajon, who was beaten April 10 in Langnese’s house and left on the reservation in Alpine.

Deborah Carson, Langnese’s attorney, said the murder happened after Arnold taunted him about a recent burglary of his house that Langnese thought she was involved in.

“He went totally out of control. This is a one-time incident,� said Carson.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Louis Aragon said he didn’t believe Arnold had anything to do with the burglary, but the defendant thought otherwise.

“He chose a life style which invariably leads to volatile situations--in this case, murder,� said Aragon.

Still set for trial on Oct. 7 are three friends accused of covering up the murder.

Marjorie Saccoman, 21, Charlie Nocita, 22, both of El Cajon, and Terry Kaul, 33, of Lemon Grove, are accused of being accessories after the fact. A fourth friend given immunity from prosecution testified they shampooed the rug to remove bloodstains and cleaned up the house after the beating.