A 59-year-old man pleaded no contest today to one count of voluntary manslaughter for severely injuring another man during a fight, leading to his death, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Tapti Patel said Riccardo Gonzalez Rangel of Long Beach also admitted using a milk crate as a deadly weapon.

Rangel was immediately sentenced to 12 years in state prison.

On June 21, 2015, Rangel and victim David Garcia, 38, were at an apartment complex in Long Beach when the two men got into an argument, according to court testimony. The argument turned physical and the defendant hit the victim with a milk crate several times, the prosecutor said.

After being struck, Garcia fell and hit his head. The victim remained hospitalized and died more than six months later as a result of his injuries.

Case NA103391 was investigated by the Long Beach Police Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / Case NA103391 / June 05, 2017