A Turlock man is prison bound for his role in a deadly Modesto home invasion robbery that resulted in the death of a man trying to protect his family.

Carlos Ivan Flores, 21, of Turlock agreed to accept a deal that saw him enter a no contest plea to charges of voluntary manslaughter along with personally using a firearm, home invasion robbery, and committing an assault likely to produce great bodily injury. The deal was struck after a previous trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court resulted in a hung jury on murder charges.

On August 2, 2015, Flores and another suspect forced their way into a home in the 800 block of Pine Tree Lane that was occupied by Jose Sepulveda, his wife, and their three young children ages 2, 8 and 12.

According to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, Flores demanded money and threatened to shoot one of the children if he did not get what he wanted. Sepulveda tried to protect his family by wrestling the firearm away from Flores, but Flores shot and killed him. As Flores fled the scene he took with him the control box for the home’s video surveillance system.

Flores was later identified as a suspect in the shooting and a search was initiated for him. Flores was taken into custody about a month after the fatal encounter. He was arrested trying the enter the country from Mexico, where he had been residing for the previous month. The second suspect was identified as Edgar Gonzalez and he remains at large.

The case went to jury trial from Feb. 7, through March 8. During deliberations, the jury deadlocked and was unable to reach a decision, forcing Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Rick Distaso to declare a mistrial on March 13.

A sentencing hearing is set for June 14, where Sepulveda’s family is expected to deliver victim impact statements. As part of the plea deal, Flores will be sentenced to 21 years and four months in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Meghan Anderson prosecuted the case through jury trial on behalf of the People.