The man accused of throwing a boy over a Mall of America balcony will spend the next 19 years in jail.
Emmanuel Aranda, 24, was sentenced Monday morning at the Hennepin County Government Center. He agreed to the sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to premeditated first degree attempted murder.
Two-thirds of the sentence, nearly 13 years, must be spent in prison.
"Good luck, sir," said Hennepin County judge Jeannice Reding at the end of the 18-minute hearing.
Aranda did not make a statement during the hearing, responding to questions from the judge with one-word answers.
Statements from Landon's family were read in court before the sentencing.
"You chose to listen to the worst part of yourself that day," read a statement from Landon's father. "You chose evil over good, and chose to take your hate and your hurt out on my prescious boy. That is where your impact on us stops. You will take nothing more from us."
Police say Arranda approached the 5 year old boy at random on an upper floor of the mall on April 12, grabbed him and and threw him 40 feet to the floor below.
The boy, who we simply know as Landon, survived and is still recovering from severe head trauma and broken bones.
A GoFundMe page has raised more than $1 million for Landon and his family.