Partygoer goes to prison

A Bonita man was sentenced Nov. 4 to three years in state prison after a jury convicted him of involuntary manslaughter in the 2010 death of Joseph Barrs, 21, following a party in Chula Vista.

Uriel Alejandro Sanchez, 21, was denied probation by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney. The prosecutor asked for four years, which is the maximum sentence.

Sanchez was given credits of 585 days in jail which includes time off for good behavior. He was fined $824.

The jury acquitted Sanchez of murder and found him guilty of the lesser offense on Sept. 30.

The same jury acquitted a co-defendant, Anthony Talavera, 19, of Chula Vista, of felony assault in the beating of Barrs. A murder charge against Talavera was dismissed and he only stood trial with Sanchez for felony assault.

Barrs was found mortally injured in the street in the 400 block of Krista Court in Chula Vista on Oct. 10, 2010. Medics performed CPR on Barrs, but he died at the scene from head and face injuries.

The conflict between Sanchez and Barrs involved a dispute about a young woman who had dated Barrs.

The beating occurred after a large party in which alcohol was served.