A Long Beach man has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison for manslaughter after pleading no contest to beating a man with a milk crate.
Riccardo Gonzalez Rangel, 59, pleaded no contest June 5 to one count of voluntary manslaughter for severely injuring David Garcia, 39, during a fight, leading to his death, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said Rangel admitted to killing Garcia as well as using a milk crate as a deadly weapon. On June 21, 2015, Rangel and Garcia got into an argument at a Long Beach apartment complex, according to court testimony. The argument turned physical and Rangel hit Garcia with a milk crate several times, according to prosecutors.
After being struck, Garcia fell and hit his head. Garcia was hospitalized and died more than six months later from his injuries.