A 47-year-old Las Vegas man will spend up to 35 years behind bars after admitting to fatally stabbing his girlfriend during an argument that began over a plate of rice, according to court records and a police department press release.
Jose Galan-Preval received a sentence of 14 to 35 years in prison this week after pleading guilty to second-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the January killing of Yaimara Leyva-Cadet.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched to a residence in downtown Las Vegas on the afternoon of Jan. 23 after receiving reports of a stabbing. Responding officers found Leyva-Cadet suffering from several stab wounds; she was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Court testimony revealed that tension had been building in the relationship for some time. Galan-Preval’s defense attorney told the court that Leyva-Cadet had been unemployed and reportedly avoided taking on manual labor jobs despite being capable of the work, while Galan-Preval remained the sole income earner in the household. The attorney added that the imbalance created ongoing friction, compounded by repeated accusations of infidelity directed at Galan-Preval.
Both individuals had reportedly relocated to the United States from Cuba in search of new opportunities, according to statements made during the sentencing hearing.
Per witness accounts from roommates presented in court, the fatal confrontation unfolded on the morning of the incident when Galan-Preval, who had reportedly been drinking, asked Leyva-Cadet to prepare rice before he left for work. When she declined, he allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her multiple times.
Defense counsel described the moment as a sudden emotional break, telling the court that once Galan-Preval realized what had happened, he did not harm anyone else present and left the scene shortly after.
Authorities said Galan-Preval turned himself in following the attack and admitted to losing control during the confrontation. He reportedly told his landlord, who was present at the scene, that he took full responsibility for his actions.
During police questioning, Galan-Preval alleged that Leyva-Cadet had frequently accused him of cheating and displayed possessive behavior throughout their relationship, according to his arrest report.
As part of a negotiated plea agreement, Galan-Preval accepted a base sentence of 10 to 25 years for the murder charge. Prosecutors had pushed for an additional 20-year enhancement due to the use of a deadly weapon, but the presiding judge ultimately imposed an additional four to 10 years instead.
The judge acknowledged during sentencing that Galan-Preval had no prior criminal history and had shown immediate remorse and cooperation following the killing, while also noting the difficulty of weighing those factors against what she called an especially brutal manner of death.
Galan-Preval addressed the court directly during his sentencing, expressing deep remorse and asking for forgiveness through a Spanish interpreter, stating that he wished he could have taken her place instead.