Sergio Guadalupe Macias, 34, of Modesto has been convicted of attempting to kill his victim in Ceres in 2016.

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Mangar prosecuted the case, which ended Dec. 4 with Macias being sentenced to state prison for murder.

Around noon on Sept. 30, 2016, a Ceres Police officer on routine patrol in the area of Mitchell Road and Fowler Road was flagged down to deal with an assault taking place nearby. The officer observed Macias, armed with a steak knife, chasing another man around a parked SUV and yelling that he was going to kill him. The victim had already sustained cuts to his back, neck and finger. After repeated commands to surrender, Macias finally complied and was arrested. The victim's injuries required stitches at a local hospital.

The officer learned that Macias and the victim had been members of the same Latino rock band and was irate for being kicked out of the band. The victim claimed that Macias' excessive marijuana use caused him to frequently forget the words and music to their songs when they played at concerts. When he was told this, said Mangar, Macias was outraged and felt disrespected, prompting him to attack the victim.

Although Macias has no prior criminal history, visiting Judge Frank Dougherty followed Mangar's recommendation and sentenced Macias to seven years in state prison.

Attempted murder is also a "strike" under California's "Three Strikes" law that can be used to increase the punishment for any future crimes Macias may commit after being released from prison.