Former Marine Gets 15 Years To Life In Killing Of Baby Son

VISTA, Calif. (AP) - A former Southern California Marine is facing life in prison for beating to death his 7-month-old son.

Twenty-three-year-old Stanford Morocho pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder. He was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years to life in prison.

Morocho is a former Camp Pendleton Marine. He and the boy's mother had agreed to share custody of the baby.

Authorities say Morocho fatally abused his son during a week he had custody in December 2014.

The boy wasn't breathing when Morocho took him to a hospital at the Marine base. Authorities say the boy had broken ribs and a fractured skull.