Witnesses say Gerardo Perez's Honda Accord went flying into an orchard at 97 MPH.
"Santiago was a proud member of the church, an immigrant, a field worker," a Fresno County prosecutor said in court.
Action News previously reported that Santiago Gomez and Perez were friends, but witnesses say there was an argument.
"He observed movement in the car through the back window, which appeared to show the occupants fighting," the defense attorney explained.
He then blamed the victim.
"I don't believe the accident would have happened if not for the victim hysterically grabbing the steering wheel," the defense attorney said.
"Ultimately, we will never know what exactly caused the collision," the prosecutor responded.
Investigators say there was alcohol in the car, but prosecutors could not charge a DUI.
"Because the defendant had fled the scene, the officers were unable to do a DUI check," the county prosecutor said.
Perez turned himself in to the Orange Cove Police Department and later pleaded no contest to leaving the scene.
When his attorney asked for probation on Wednesday, the judge denied it, stating that Perez had made a choice.
"He showed no regard for the victim, nor did he request rescue services to evaluate the victim's injuries," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Mangano said.
The victim's cousin, Rosa, told Action News the two-year sentence was lighter than she expected, but said God will have the final judgment.
She previously described Santiago Gomez as loving and someone who always smiled.
"It's a really, really sad tragedy, and my family and I are trying to cope with the situation as best as we can," she said in the days after the crash.
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