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State of Montana v. Franciso Padilla-Canales
Date: 03-18-2026
Case Number: DC-22-233B
Judge: Rienne H. McElyen
Court: Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, Montana
Plaintiff's Attorney: Gallatin County, Montana, District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney: Britt Cotter
Description:
Bozeman, Montana, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Deliberate Homicide, Aggravated Kidnapping, Witness Tampering, and Aggravated Burglary.
On July 6, 2022, Padilla-Canales1 broke into a home where his wife, Gloryangelise
Padilla Navarro, was spending the night. The couple had separated, and Navarro had begun a romantic relationship with Lesman Escobar Andara. Upon finding Navarro and Andara together in the home, Padilla-Canales stabbed Andara with a pocketknife. Navarro fled during the altercation, but Padilla-Canales caught her, brought her back inside the house, and directed her to call 911 and report the stabbing as a suicide attempt. Padilla-Canales performed CPR on Andara until emergency services arrived, but Andara died at the scene.
“FOREIGN CITIZEN MAY BE DEPORTED FROM OR DENIED
ADMISSION TO THIS COUNTRY IF FOUND GUILTY OR PLEADS GUILTY TO
THE CHARGE(S).”
On July 6, 2022, Padilla-Canales1 broke into a home where his wife, Gloryangelise
Padilla Navarro, was spending the night. The couple had separated, and Navarro had begun a romantic relationship with Lesman Escobar Andara. Upon finding Navarro and Andara together in the home, Padilla-Canales stabbed Andara with a pocketknife. Navarro fled during the altercation, but Padilla-Canales caught her, brought her back inside the house, and directed her to call 911 and report the stabbing as a suicide attempt. Padilla-Canales performed CPR on Andara until emergency services arrived, but Andara died at the scene.
“FOREIGN CITIZEN MAY BE DEPORTED FROM OR DENIED
ADMISSION TO THIS COUNTRY IF FOUND GUILTY OR PLEADS GUILTY TO
THE CHARGE(S).”
Outcome:
The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Affirmed
Affirmed
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of State of Montana v. Franciso Padilla-Canales?
The outcome was: The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Affirmed
Which court heard State of Montana v. Franciso Padilla-Canales?
This case was heard in Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, Montana, MT. The presiding judge was Rienne H. McElyen.
Who were the attorneys in State of Montana v. Franciso Padilla-Canales?
Plaintiff's attorney: Gallatin County, Montana, District Attorney's Office. Defendant's attorney: Britt Cotter.
When was State of Montana v. Franciso Padilla-Canales decided?
This case was decided on March 18, 2026.