Man pleads no contest to rape, attempted murder in 2021 case

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man accused of choking a woman unconscious, driving her to a secluded location and raping her has accepted a plea deal and faces 17 years and four months in prison, according to court records and prosecutors.

Armando Avalos Jr. on Tuesday pleaded no contest to attempted murder, rape, making threats and trying to prevent a victim from reporting a crime, court records show.

The 25-year-old is scheduled for sentencing on July 31.

Avalos is accused of choking an acquaintance unconscious in his car after she rebuffed his advances early Aug. 4, 2021, at a Bakersfield park. The woman told sheriff’s detectives that when she awoke she was in Avalos’ car somewhere in the mountains, possibly the Lake Isabella area.

She said he drew a gun and threatened to kill her if she didn’t do what he wanted, according to court filings. Avalos then raped her, both in the mountains and another location, she told detectives. She said he kept the gun pointed at her.

Afterward, he again threatened to kill her, but agreed to release her after she told him she wouldn’t report the assault, she told detectives.

Detectives arrested Avalos a day later after locating him in the Los Angeles area. He’s been locked up since.

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