Today, Sergio Almanza received a 25-year prison sentence for the death of 7-year-old Pronoy Bhattacharya at the River of Lights holiday celebration in 2021. Pronoy’s mother, Deepshikha Chowdhury, reminded the judge that “every moment of my day is spent thinking about Pronoy. I want Pronoy to know, wherever he may be, that justice was served today.”
Almanza’s conviction was secured by Special Prosecutors with the New Mexico Department of Justice. Attorney General Raúl Torrez praised the family for their strength and determination throughout this difficult ordeal. “Pronoy was a special little boy who will be missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family today and I hope they find some comfort in our steadfast commitment to hold offenders like Sergio Almanza accountable for their actions and to do everything in our power to make this community safe for all our families.”