A South Texas man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after fatally hitting a bicyclist while drunk and driving off with the body in the bed of his truck.
A Hidalgo County judge delivered the sentence Wednesday to 24-year-old Emilio Gomez, who pleaded guilty last month to intoxicated manslaughter.
Police said Gomez killed 38-year-old Eddie Arguelles in April. They say Arguelles was cycling with a friend before dawn when he was hit from behind.
Arguelles' body landed in the bed of the vehicle. Police said Gomez later tried to dispose of it in a drainage ditch.
Other charges were dropped in the plea deal.
Gomez's lawyer argued for a shorter sentence because of his client's lack of a criminal history.
