People v. Avalos CA2/8

BACKGROUND

In 2021, Avalos, violating a protective order, threatened to kill his father, Armando, while holding a glass “decoration.” This led to Armando obtaining, in 2022, a second protective order against his son. In 2023, Avalos was at his father’s home with his father’s parents when Armando returned home from work. Armando perceived his son was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and, based on past experiences, believed his son posed a danger. Armando told his son to leave, but Avalos responded rudely with a raised voice. Avalos threatened to “hit” and “sock” his father. When Avalos, who was also speaking to someone on a cell phone, retreated to his father’s storage shed, Armando, worried about his safety, locked Avalos inside. Avalos then explicitly threatened to kill his father, kill everyone in the house, and twice threatened to burn the house down. There was gasoline in the shed. Afraid for himself and his parents, Armando called 911. He told the dispatcher he had put away his knives because of “last time.” Police arrived at Armando’s home, but when they approached the shed, Avalos exited through a window and escaped. Later, Avalos returned to his father’s home…