The killer who shot Beverly Hills philanthropist Jacqueline Avant in the back during a home invasion was sentenced to a minimum of 150 years in prison today.
The sentence of career criminal Aariel Maynor, 30, was enhanced by the state’s “three-strikes” law that imposes additional time for violent crimes he committed between 2013 and 2018, according to news reports.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has traditionally levied light charges in violent crimes, and Maynor bragged, “I’m going to get out of jail. I’ll probably do like 20 … 25 years, get out, you feel me?” in a jail phone call from a Los Angeles jail after the Dec. 1 murder, the Los Angeles Times reported.
On a second call, his giddiness reportedly prompted a woman to respond, “That’s not funny. That’s somebody’s life.” Maynor marveled that his crimes were “all over the news” and wondered if “my mama’s seen that.”
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, who is organizing a recall, said, “Gascon has personally made LA’s criminal justice system a literal laughing stock.”
“When violent criminals are yukking it up because Gascon’s giving them as short a sentence as possible, we are in big trouble.”
GASCON FUNDRAISES TO LOWER THE SENTENCE OF JACKIE AVANT’S KILLER
#BREAKING Aariel Maynor has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 150 years for the murder of Beverly Hills philanthropist Jackie Avant on Dec. 1st of last year, and other crimes committed that morning in Beverly Hills and Hollywood @ABC7 #jacquelineavant pic.twitter.com/9OAAmzu9Nh
— Josh Haskell (@abc7JoshHaskell) April 19, 2022
Avant, the wife of music executive Clarence Avant and mother-in-law of Netflix’s CEO, was killed during a late-night break-in through a sliding glass door. A security guard was also shot by Maynor, who was arrested a short time later at another failed burglary. Maynor said in a call that he expected to net $50,000 at the Avant house.
Hours after police released the details of the murder, Gascon distributed a fundraising email asking for money to overturn a state law that adds extra prison time for using a gun, the Washington Examiner exclusively reported.
Maynor has pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of burglary. Gascon did not file charges that mandate life without parole or the death penalty, so Maynor has been counting on the California elder parole law, which would allow his release at the age of 50.
Gascon’s policy has been to forbid enhanced charges, such as using a gun or belonging to a gang, that tack on substantial prison time. He also disallowed using California’s three-strikes law.
The latter policy was thwarted last year when a judge ruled that Gascon violated state law during a suit brought by the prosecutors union. So, Maynor was ineligible for elder parole but eligible after serving a two-thirds sentence, said prosecutor Eric Siddall, vice president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys.
“If it wasn’t for the ADDA injunction, Avant’s family would be attending parole hearings in 21 years,” he said. “And under another Gascon policy, they would face the defendant and parole board alone without a prosecutor since we are forbidden from attending.”
Gascon told the Los Angeles Times that Maynor’s behavior is due to the state’s lack of adequate rehabilitation. At the same time, he admitted that Maynor is one of the state’s most violent offenders.
“It was a horrific, tragic crime the impact of which continues to traumatize her family and the greater community,” Gascon said. “I wanted to hold him accountable but at the same time avoid a painful trial for the family. … Mr. Maynor has been in the system since 12. It speaks to the failure of the criminal justice system. He rated as the highest of most violent offenders in the prison system.”
One of Gascon’s most vocal critics has been Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who says the DA refused to file 5,000 cases last year.
“For him, his only strategy is the plight of criminal offenders when they are incarcerated,” Villanueva said. “He wrings his hands about the harm they incur in prison. When it comes to harm for the Jackie Avants of the world, it’s lip service at best.”
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Avant’s murder contributed to widespread fear among residents, who scurried to buy weapons, home security, and safe rooms. The city of Beverly Hills, which is 71% Democrat, took the unprecedented step of backing a recall against Gascon.
