Sentencing set for Jan. 10, 2020
An Orange County jury on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 found Matthew Paul Meier guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Seal Beach resident James Tinsman, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled to be held Jan. 10, 2020.
Tinsman died on July 18, 2017, after reportedly being punched once in the face with a closed fist, falling and hitting his head on the pavement, according to the authorities. Paramedics and police responded to the scene, but Tinsman died later on that same date.
Police issued a request for the public’s assistance in the death investigation.
Meier was arrested Aug. 2, 2017.
Meier was also found guilty of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. In addition, the jury “found true” a sentencing “enhancement” of “cause great bodily injury; comatose or paralysis.”
The California Penal Code defines manslaughter as “the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.”
The code defines involuntary manslaughter as killing a human being “in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony; or in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection.”
Meier was released on $100,000 bail posted on Aug. 8, 2017, according to the courthouse website.
However, the same website now reports that Meier has been remanded, meaning he is in custody. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department lists an inmate by the same name in custody, with an upcoming court date of Jan. 10, 2020, which is the date of the scheduled sentencing hearing.
Earlier this year, Sun readers gave a someone identified only as “Matty” the gold for bartender in the 2019 Best of Seal Beach contest. The case number is 17WF1635.
