Parole denied for man who killed in Modesto, Turlock bar fights

A murderer who shot and killed two men during bar fights in Modesto and Turlock was found unsuitable for parole, the Stanislaus County district attorney's office announced this week.

Efrain Rodriguez, formerly of Ripon, was denied parole last month during a hearing at California State Prison, Solano.

On Feb. 26, 1994, at Lupe's bar on McHenry Avenue, victim Rene Martinez knocked Rodriguez's beer off the bar during a dispute, according to the district attorney's office. Rodriguez pulled out a .22-caliber semiautomatic Ruger pistol and shot Martinez three times, killing him.

Less than a month later, Rodriguez, Jose Rivera and another companion were drinking at Corina's Bar at South First Street in Turlock. During a dispute in the bar's parking lot, Rodriguez fatally shot Rivera with the same pistol.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, both with enhancements for using a firearm. He was sentenced to a prison term of 19 years to life.

Rodriguez was denied parole in June 2006. During this year's hearing, the board denied parole for three more years.

This story was originally published June 12, 2013 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Parole denied for man who killed in Modesto, Turlock bar fights."