Artie Ellis, one of two Potomac teenagers to plead guilty to the 2009 murder of a Gaithersburg car salesman this year, was given a life sentence in prison that was cut to 25 years in hopes he could find rehabilitation upon his release.

Ellis' sentence was reduced to all but 25 years, the recommendation by prosecutors who struck a deal with him to plead guilty to a first-degree murder charge in May.

He was one of two defendants in the killing of Ali Reza Zare, 57, of Gaithersburg in May 2009. Emily Geller, 18, of Potomac, was arrested along with Ellis in October 2009 and struck a similar deal with prosecutors in August.

At a sentencing hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court last week, Ellis' attorney, Rene Sandler, painted a picture of a troubled youth struggling with a difficult home life that included drug abuse in a bid for clemency.

She said at the time of his arrest, Ellis was known to use cocaine, PCP, and marijuana "on an almost daily basis" and has been diagnosed with a litany of psychological issues including bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and conduct disorder.

Sandler said placement in the Patuxent Institute — a mental health facility in Jessup — could provide hope for his eventual rehabilitation.

"Should he go into the Department of Correction system, one day, in that scenario, the door just opens after a very long sentence of incarceration," she said. "Patuxent provides treatment."

Judge Joseph A. Dugan said he didn't consider Ellis' age or upbringing as an excuse.

"I recognize that most 15-year-olds don't have a lot of foresight...but they don't go out and plan a robbery," he said.

Assistant State's Attorney Carol Crawford said Ellis killed Zare on May 10 by striking him in the face with a shovel in an attempt to rob him in a wooded area near Bells Mill Elementary School on Bells Mill Road. Zare was found dead the following day by a jogger.

Ellis and Geller stole Zare's car, cell phone, and credit card in the robbery. Court documents state that police connected the two to the murder when they attempted to use his credit card at an ATM machine at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda shortly after his death.

Zare's cell phone was later found at Ellis' home.

Crawford, who is also prosecuting Geller, said Zare was led to the wooded area by the promise of sex from the then-17 year old.

Zare was an Iranian native who immigrated to the United States almost 30 years ago.

Before his sentence was issued, Ellis said he never meant to kill Zare by striking him with the shovel.

"I never intended for this to happen," he said. "Life is crazy, crazy things happen."

Geller is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

aruoff@gazette.net