Long Beach Man Sentenced in Cyclist’s Death
A man convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the death of a bicyclist last August has been sentenced to two years and eight months in a state prison.
Superior Court Judge Michael McCartin in Westminster sentenced Michael Arthur Roth, 50, of Long Beach on Wednesday after hearing emotional testimony from the victim’s family and friends and from Roth’s mother and sister.
Roth, who was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident, hit Lawrence Hilbert, 55, of Long Beach and Stephen Robertson, 50, of Los Alamitos near Phillips Street on Pacific Coast Highway on Aug. 25. Hilbert died at the scene; Robertson was hurt.
Authorities said Roth was returning from a methadone clinic, where he was being treated for heroin addiction, when he swerved into the bicycle lane, striking both men.
In a statement to the court, Roth apologized for his actions.
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