Judge Sentences Weld Man to 12 Years in Prison for Infant Son's Death

Published on February 25, 2019

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Weld County man who was convicted in connection to his infant son’s 2015 death was sentenced to more than a decade behind bars.

A judge sentenced Roberto “Nathan” Archuleta to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after a jury convicted him last December of one count of Child Abuse Resulting in Death – Criminal Negligence which is a Class 3 Felony.

According to the affidavit, the baby’s mother, Angelica Chavez, dropped her son Donovan off at the defendant’s home in late July 2015.

Archuleta lived with his mother, Sandy Archuleta, at the time.

During the course of the next six days, Donovan developed chemical burns to his face, mouth and gums, a sepsis infection from pneumonia and red bruises caused by pinching from tweezers.

Medical records also show Donovan had broken ribs, which experts said were not caused by CPR.

Sandy Archuleta said while her grandson Donovan was in her care, he started running a fever. She said she used vinegar and potato slices on his skin to help reduce symptoms, while ultimately burned him.

Police reports show that several hours passed before Chavez called an ambulance after realizing something was wrong with Donovan when she returned to the Archuleta’s home.

Donovan was pronounced dead at the Children’s Hospital in Denver on August 2, 2017.

Chavez was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison in April of 2017.

Sandy Archuleta was convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison in early 2018.

Weld Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wrenn and and Deputy District Attorney Tamara Love prosecuted Roberto “Nathan” Archuleta’s case.