An Oakdale man will spend more than two decades in prison in connection with a 2019 shooting in the city.

William Beck Usilton III, 30, of Oakdale was sentenced to 21 years in prison during earlier court action in Modesto, Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager announced on Nov. 1. Deputy District Attorney Tracy Griffin prosecuted the case.

On Feb. 10, 2019, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Usilton shot and killed 25-year-old Cody Sorensen during an argument. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and personal use of a firearm at the conclusion of a two-week jury trial.

During a sentencing hearing on Oct. 18, 2021 before Judge Linda McFadden, several relatives of Cody Sorensen told the court how Sorenson’s death affected them.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge McFadden sentenced Usilton to the maximum sentence of 21 years in state prison.