Encinitas

Jeffrey Hinrichs, who had pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and transportation of cocaine, has been sentenced to six years for the death of a Solana Beach physician.

The sentencing by Superior Court Judge William Mudd was the maximum sought by prosecutors in exchange for Hinrichs’ earlier guilty plea, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Waters said.

Hinrichs, 35, struck and killed Dr. Anthony Armino on Old Highway 101 in Cardiff Jan. 27.

Hinrichs previously had been convicted twice for reckless driving and twice for driving under the influence. He was arrested a third time for driving under the influence but had failed to appear in court and had a warrant out for his arrest when he killed Armino.

Waters said the district attorney’s office agreed to accept Hinrichs’ guilty plea in exchange for dropping several other charges, and sought only six years instead of a possible eight-year maximum prison term, because an investigation concluded that Armino may have been riding his bicycle as far as 15 feet into the street when he was struck.