Two Turlock men have entered guilty pleas for their roles in the 2018 death of a man who was beaten and intentionally run over with a vehicle, the Stanislaus County District's Attorney Office reported.

Jose Alonso Gutierrez, Jr., 22, of Turlock was convicted of murder and Bailey Martin Sanchez, 24, of Turlock was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and auto theft. Both convictions after the two defendants entered guilty pleas on Monday in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

The two men had been arrested for the death of Jack Keener in April 2018.

Shortly before 1:30 a.m. on April 15, 2018, Gutierrez and Sanchez were in a verbal argument with Keener and another man in downtown Turlock. The argument turned into a fist fight that continued into a nearby field in the area of S. First and D streets, where Sanchez beat Keener to the ground, according to the district attorney's office.

Gutierrez then drove his car over Keener multiple times, causing Keener’s death. According to surveillance video, Gutierrez drove both he and Sanchez away from the scene but returned after going around the block so that Sanchez could steal Keener’s car, which had been parked across the street.

Turlock Police officers were dispatched to the area and found Keener gravely injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.

On Monday, Gutierrez pled guilty to murder and Sanchez pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and auto theft.

Keener's family and friends gave victim impact statements before Judge Shawn Bessey. Upon conclusion of the hearing, Judge Bessey sentenced Gutierrez to serve 15 years to life in state prison. Sanchez was sentenced to serve six years for the voluntary manslaughter charge plus an additional eight months for the auto theft.  

Both defendants remain in the Stanislaus County jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections.