40 years for man who beat Scott County landlord with hammer and said, ‘I killed him ... I don’t care’

A 40-year sentence has been given to a man who fatally beat his landlord with a hammer in the victim’s Elko New Market home.

Cesar Jeff Cervantes-Montoya, 27, was sentenced in Scott County District Court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the attack on Bruce R. Buske, 68, on Jan. 5, 2022, at the home in the 9500 block of E. Main Street. A first-degree murder count was dismissed.

With time in jail since his arrest, Cervantes-Montoya is expected to serve the first 24 years of his term in prison and the balance on supervised release.

“Violence of this nature is a tragedy for the entire community,” Elko New Market Police Chief Craig Bell said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and neighbors who have been deeply impacted by this senseless act.”

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Scott County Attorney’s Office:

At about 8:40 a.m., Cervantes-Montoya called 911 and admitted to hitting Buske with a hammer. Police arrived at the home to find Cervantes-Montoya outside, where he was arrested.

Inside, Buske was at the bottom of the stairs and dead from severe head injuries. A hammer was left on a coffee table.

Cervantes-Montoya told police he and his girlfriend had lived in Buske’s basement for three years. Cervantes-Montoya said he had difficulties with Buske over various “landlord issues,” had been the target of racial comments and had his dog threatened.

Cervantes-Montoya said Buske denied the allegations and pushed him. Cervantes-Montoya said he grabbed the nearest object — the hammer — and hit him with it a few times.

He didn’t think the blows would necessarily kill Buske, “but I killed him, and I don’t care,” the charges quoted Cervantes-Montoya as saying to police. “He’s been asking for it.”