SANTA ANA — A 30-year-old man was sentenced to 26 years in prison Friday. Fatally stabbed Pasadena woman Six years ago in a hotel in Westminster.

Made by Aryan Vito Smith open defense to murder On March 8, the sentence was improved for the crime of using a deadly weapon.

After considering more evidence, Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson ruled that Smith committed first-degree murder. If he had found the incident to be second-degree murder, his sentence would have been 16 years to life.

Smith was arrested in May 2020 and was being held on $1 million bail.

Smith killed 22-year-old Treeanna Nichols on February 5, 2018.

Police were called to check on Nichols’ welfare just before 11 p.m. that day and found him dead in a room at the Quality Inn at 6601 Westminster Boulevard.

Westminster Police Department Commander Nichols had been stabbed multiple times. Cameron Knauerhaze said the defendant was arrested.

Westminster police said that after his death, Nichols was left alone at the motel and stayed there for a short time. Police said the woman had friends and acquaintances in the area.

Register contributed to this story.