A Hacienda Heights man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for stabbing to death a fellow guest during an argument at a party, officials said March 8.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Stogel said Mannie Juarez, 24, was sentenced Wednesday at Pomona Superior Court.

He said a jury convicted Juarez on Feb. 10 of voluntary manslaughter. The jurors also found true the allegation that he used a knife to kill 22-year-old Eduardo Vargas of Hacienda Heights on Aug. 7, 2011.

Both men attended a party held at a house in the 16100 block of Garo Street that night.

Stogel said Vargas was hit by a woman who lived at the house. He added that the attack was unprovoked and the woman was drunk.

Juarez, who was a friend of the woman, stepped in and got into a fight with Vargas. He stabbed Vargas once in the chest, severing an artery.

The wounded man collapsed in a neighbor’s driveway. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

Witnesses chased Juarez and detained him until deputies arrived.