A 76-year-old man who was driving nearly twice the speed limit just before he struck and killed a 21-year-old cyclist in Gresham was sentenced to two years in prison Monday.

Alex Jacoby wasn't under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he drove into and killed Robert Joseph Esparza, who was riding his bike to his job at 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2016. Esparza's obituary said he worked as a welder.

Jacoby was driving a 2016 Corvette and had moments earlier tried to get two women to speed-race him in their Corvette, but they declined, according to court papers.

Robert Esparza

A computer in Jacoby's car recorded his speed at 78 mph five seconds before the crash, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden. Jacoby hit the brakes and was traveling 56 mph half a second before striking Esparza, Snowden said.

Esparza was riding on the Gresham-Fairview Trail, and had been crossing Northeast Glisan Street near 199th Avenue in a marked crosswalk.

Prosecutors pursued second-degree manslaughter charges against Jacoby, who had no criminal history. If convicted of that crime, he would have received 6 years and three months under Oregon's Measure 11.

Prosecutors agreed to a two-year prison sentence because the family didn't want to go through a trial, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

Earlier this month, Jacoby pleaded guilty in Multnomah County Circuit Court to criminally negligent homicide.

Monday, Jacoby apologized.

Esparza's relatives attended the hearing. Among them was Esparza's father, who said Jacoby -- in his 70s -- should have known better.

"We as a family live your mistake every day, every weekend, every holiday," said Simon Esparza, Robert Esparza's father. "We wake up missing our son, brother, uncle."

The family has been left with so many questions about why Jacoby drove so fast.

"We go to bed wondering why we won't see him tomorrow," Simon Esparza said. "Sadly, these questions are answered without response. Trading your punishment for his life is nothing by comparison."

Robert Esparza was a 2013 graduate of Gresham High School. Many of his organs were donated upon his death.

Jacoby will be eligible for time off for good behavior in prison -- meaning he could end up serving about 19 months. He will be on post-prison supervision for three years, and must pay about $82,000 in restitution to Esparza's family.

Jacoby's driver's license will be revoked for life.

-- Aimee Green