Facing a preliminary hearing in Solano County Superior Court, a 35-year-old Fairfield man pleaded to second-degree murder for the July 2021 stabbing death of his girlfriend and will be sentenced next month to 16 years to life.
As part of a plea deal, Hugo Ulises Avelino-Medina, who entered his plea on Monday in Department 9, will be formally sentenced to state prison when he returns for the sentencing hearing at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Justice Center in Fairfield, The Reporter has learned.
During the morning proceeding in Judge Carlos R. Gutierrez’s courtroom, Avelino-Medina also admitted to using a knife to kill Erika Avelino, 36, of Fairfield.
Deputy District Attorney Shelly Moore led the prosecution, and Deputy Public Defender Jeannette Garcia represented Avelino-Medina, who remains in the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield without bail.
At the time of his initial arraignment, he also was charged with DUI and a probation violation, with both offenses occurring at the time of his arrest at 2:47 p.m. July 8 in San Rafael, according to jail records.
Events first unfolded around 11 a.m. in Fairfield, when police officers responded to the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue for a report of domestic violence. Upon arrival, they found Avelino’s body.
A preliminary investigation revealed Avelino-Medina was the suspect. He fled before officers arrived, officials said.
However, his vehicle was found in San Rafael and recovered by Fairfield police. The California Highway Patrol aided in the recovery.
With the help of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and San Rafael Police Department, Avelino-Medina was found and arrested at the intersection of Medway Road and Front Street in San Rafael.
He was later booked into Solano County Jail in Fairfield.
By pleading, Avelino-Medina avoided the possibility of a 25-year-to-life sentence if found guilty of first-degree murder, with the likelihood of more time for enhancements or included offenses.
