Adam Wayne Goodman, 31, of Modesto, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in state prison after he was convicted of slaying a man in south Modesto in 2015.

Judge Dawna Reeves sentenced Goodman after he entered a guilty/no contest plea last month to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. Goodman also admitted having used a knife during the killing and to having previously served a prison term.

In a separate case which occurred while his case was pending, Goodman also admitted to possession of drugs while in the County Jail and admitted having served two prior prison terms.

Deputy District Attorney Brad Nix said the killing of Stanley Gene Schmidt, 36, occurred on the afternoon of March 19, 2015. At around 1:30 p.m., an ex-girlfriend of the Schmidt's and his new girlfriend got into an argument in front of a store at the trailer park at 665 South 7th Street. The fight ended and Schmidt and his girlfriend went to see a mutual friend at a nearby trailer. However, they were followed by the ex-girlfriend who wanted to continue fighting. After Schmidt intervened and thwarted a second fight, the ex-girlfriend called for someone to get her cousin, Goodman, who arrived within minutes.
Goodman confronted Schmidt and they argued about whether the women should continue fighting. The victim swung at Goodman with his left hand, which was in a cast on his forearm and wrist, but missed. Goodman pulled a knife and swung it at Schmidt, inflicting several cuts and slash wounds. Goodman then plunged the knife into the base of Schmidt's neck about three inches deep, cutting a main artery.

Goodman fled the scene and was arrested by the Stanislaus Sheriff's Office about four weeks later.

The case was investigated by Detective Gregory Buck.