The driver who struck and killed a pedestrian on the Mesa in Santa Barbara last year was sentenced Tuesday to two years behind bars.

The sentence was handed down by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Stephen Foley after hearing impact statements from the victim’s family.

Brock Alexander Hoffman was ordered to spend two years in state prison for the death of Juan Lopez, 39, whom he hit while Lopez was crossing the street at around 11:30 p.m. on June 29, 2024.

Hoffman was charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.

He originally pleaded not guilty to the charge but later changed his plea to no contest and admitted that he left the scene.

Hoffman, 57, turned himself in on July 4, 2024. The District Attorney’s Office filed the criminal case against him in September 2024.

During victim-impact statements from the family, Juan Lopez Jr., the victim’s son, asked the court to deny Hoffman’s request for probation, saying he feels like Hoffman is “only sorry he got caught.”

“I just hope there is justice,” Lopez Jr. told the court.

Christina Godinez, Lopez’s longtime partner, told the court that it has been 535 days since her family last saw his face. Lopez shared three children with Godinez and helped raise her son from a previous relationship.

She said Lopez will never get the chance to see his kids get married, play with his grandchildren or experience any of the other moments for which he should be there.

“You stole my kids’ moments,” Godinez told Hoffman in court.

Before the victim-impact statements, Deputy District Attorney Michelle Mossembekker presented evidence to the judge asking him to deny the request for probation.

The collision occurred on the 800 block of Cliff Drive, near Loma Alta Drive. The Santa Barbara Police Department identified Hoffman as the driver of the car that hit Lopez in the days that followed.

Mossembekker cited the fact that Hoffman left the scene of the crime and did not turn himself in until the Police Department contacted him.

She alleged that Hoffman admitted that he would not have turned himself in if he had not been identified.

The prosecutor also accused Hoffman of trying to cover up his actions by hiding evidence of damage to his car. Photos presented in court showed his vehicle parked near his home in a way that concealed the damage to the front of the car near a wall.

Mossembekker stated that Hoffman also parked in an area that was not a parking spot and moved another car to make his vehicle fit in the space.

Foley issued the sentence after hearing statements by the family of Lopez.

During his deliberations, Foley stated that one of the responsibilities of drivers is to care for people and call for help if an accident occurs.

“It is our moral imperative as human beings,” Foley said.

Foley added that despite letters of support from people who knew him, Hoffman seemed to still be making justifications for his actions instead of taking responsibility.

One example Foley pointed to was Hoffman’s claim that he did not turn himself in due to advice from his divorce lawyer.

Foley decided to sentence Hoffman to a two-year sentence and instructed him to pay restitution fees to the family. Hoffman was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing.

Lopez Jr. spoke to Noozhawk after the sentencing and said he was satisfied with the judge’s decision.

“I’m very glad that the judge denied reducing (the charge) to a misdemeanor, and that the judge denied probation,’ Lopez Jr. said. “Obviously, I wish there was more time, but I’m just glad that he’s being held accountable.”

Lopez Jr. said the process to get to this point has been difficult for his family, and he feels as though Hoffman dragged it out.

Lopez’s family remembered him as a “good, caring person,” and said he was dedicated to his family.

“He had a lot of love,” Lopez Jr. said, “and it’s tragic that this happened. I just hope he’s not forgotten.”