A parolee was sentenced to 190 years in a California jail on Tuesday for killing philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of a famed music boss, during a burglary at her Beverly Hills home.
Aariel Maynor, 30, acknowledged to shooting Avant in the back with an AR-15 type semi-automatic weapon on Dec. 1 and firing three shots at a security officer as he left in Los Angeles Superior Court last month.
Avant was married to Grammy winner Clarence Avant, dubbed the “Godfather of Black Music” for teaching and assisting musicians such as Bill Withers, Little Willie John, L.A. Reid, Babyface, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis.
According to authorities, Maynor shot Jacqueline Avant after she shocked him after he broke into the couple’s home during a burglary attempt in which he wanted to take $50,000. He broke into a residence in the Hollywood Hills less than an hour after abandoning the scene and then shot himself in the foot as he was leaving.
Maynor, a member of the Bloods gang with a lengthy criminal record, was wheeled into court.
Avant donated her money to organizations that aided low-income communities in Watts and South Los Angeles. She was on the board of the University of California, Los Angeles’ International Student Center.
Last year, concert organizer and manager Clarence Avant, 91, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Maynor had looked for information about Clarence Avant and the couple’s residence the day before the murders, according to prosecutors.
According to a court filing filed by Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila, Maynor displayed no remorse for the killing, joking with a buddy on a taped prison phone conversation about all the news articles about him.
“Do you suppose my mother saw that?” he inquired.
“I don’t know,” the lady, who did not want to be recognized, added. “How come you’re laughing?” That is the story of someone’s life. That’s a member of someone’s family.”
The Avants were married for 54 years and had two children, Alexander Du Bois Avant and Nicole Avant, who is married to Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos and is a film producer and former US ambassador to the Bahamas.
Former President Bill Clinton, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Quincy Jones all paid homage to Jacqueline Avant and her charity activities after her passing.
In a statement, District Attorney George Gascón stated, “Today marks the conclusion of a sad case that shattered our community.” “Her assassination sent shockwaves through our community, causing dread, worry, and a profound feeling of grief.”
Maynor, who was on parole for his second robbery conviction, bragged to a buddy during a cell call that prosecutors were not pursuing life without parole, so he anticipated a lighter term.
“I’m going to be released from prison.” I’ll probably do 20… 25, go out, you understand?” he stated
Prosecutors did not pursue a special circumstance accusation that the death was done in the course of a burglary, which could have resulted in a life sentence without parole under Gascón’s policy.
Instead, they used the Three Strikes rule, which stipulates that a third significant or violent offence would result in a life sentence.
Maynor’s defense counsel unsuccessfully claimed that certain of his earlier charges should not be deemed “strikes.”
Maynor admitted to being high the morning of the incident. He also claimed that he was bipolar, that he was destitute as a child, and that he was reared in foster care.
Avila, on the other hand, stated that there were no mitigating circumstances and that Maynor “demonstrated a high degree of aggression and callousness.”
In his court declaration, Avila said, “He shot Jacqueline Avant in the back with a large-caliber pistol and tried to murder her security guard.” “As if that wasn’t enough, he decided to break into another residence with the same rifle an hour later.” This shows a blatant disrespect for all of the victims’ lives in this case.”