Man gets exceptional sentence for stabbing pregnant girlfriend

A 25-year-old man who stabbed his pregnant girlfriend in August 2008 was sentenced today to 20 years in prison.

Carlos Diaz-Galvin was found guilty last month of first-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and unlawful display of a weapon in the attack on Hortencia Salas, who was more than five months pregnant.

Salas and her baby survived.

After the Aug. 16, 2008, attack, Salas told The Seattle Times that Diaz-Galvin punched her in the face, causing her tumble down a flight of stairs. When her neighbors tried to help Salas into their North Seattle home, Diaz-Galvin lunged forward and thrust a knife into her heart.

Deputy Prosecutor Tomas Gahan said that Diaz-Galvin had been drinking before he hit Salas' then-11-year-old daughter that night. When the girl ran for help, Diaz-Galvin chased her out of the house and attacked Salas.

Diaz-Galvin also kicked a police officer and threatened Salas' neighbor with a knife when the man tried to help the injured woman, Gahan said during the trial.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com