LOS ANGELES
A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty Thursday to the murder of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant. Aariel Maynor pleaded guilty in the fatal shooting of Avant and the attempted murder of her security guard at her Beverly Hills home in December, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.
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Maynor also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of burglary. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30 and could be sentenced to up to 170 years in prison, prosecutors said.
“This crime continues to shock the conscience,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “Mrs. Avant’s death was a tragic loss felt by our entire community.” Gascón said Maynor will be ineligible for elderly parole.
Police were called to the Avants’ home early on the morning of Dec. 1 and found Jacqueline Avant, 81, with a gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital but did not survive.
He also fired on a security guard, authorities said. Neither the guard nor Clarence Avant was hurt.
An hour later, Los Angeles police officers arrested Maynor, a parolee who had shot himself in the foot at a home in the Hollywood Hills about 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) away. He was arrested for burglary, and hours later was tied to the Avant shooting.
