A Turlock man convicted of stabbing to death a Bay Area college student over a small debt was sentenced to prison Oct. 28 in San Mateo.
Timothy Andrew Guerra, 20, was convicted of second degree murder for the death of Denis Meshchyshyn, 19, a student at College of San Mateo and Belmont resident.
On Oct. 28, a San Mateo County Superior Court judge sentenced Guerra to 16 years in prison, according to the Mercury News.
Around 7:30 p.m. April 25, 2015, the Belmont Police Department was dispatched to the 600 block of Masonic Way, on a report of a stabbing.  Upon arrival, first responders found Meshchyshyn suffering from multiple stab wounds to his stomach. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to the Belmont Police Department.

Meshchyshyn was first found by two of his friends, who later told investigators when they arrived they saw him being attacked by another man, who fled the area when they arrived.

Investigators identified Guerra as a suspect after learning he was upset with Meshchyshyn over a $10 debt. Guerra had recently moved to Belmont from Turlock. He paid Meshchyshyn $10 for a ride, but Meshchyshyn never gave Guerra the ride and Guerra wanted his $10 back.

Guerra learned Meshchyshyn was going to meet his friends at a Wendy’s and confronted him there about the $10. At some point during the confrontation Guerra pulled out a knife and stabbed Meshchyshyn repeatedly.

Four days after the stabbing Guerra was located at Donnelly Park in Turlock and taken into custody. Guerra was 19 years old at the time of his arrest.