A 45-year-old Alton man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison for beating another man to death.

Jesus Bernal was convicted of manslaughter Monday following a jury trial for the killing of 45-year-old Roman Andres Meza.

Bernal had been facing a murder charge, but was convicted of the lesser offense of murder, court records show.

Amy Villanueva, a 38-year-old McAllen resident, is also charged in the case. She has pleaded not guilty to murder and is scheduled for trial in September.

Alton police on Sept. 4, 2023, responded to a report of an unresponsive man at around 8:40 a.m. at 915 N. Oak St.

Responding officers found Meza on the ground in front of a property near the roadway, Alton police said at the time.

Authorities accused Bernal and Villanueva of assaulting Meza, who died

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