A Kern County jury has convicted a Kern Valley State Prison inmate of second-degree murder in the 2021 killing of his cellmate, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.

Robert Hernandez was found guilty as charged in the death of Jose Aviles, who was housed with Hernandez at Kern Valley State Prison while Hernandez was serving time for an attempted murder conviction from 2018 in Los Angeles County.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Hernandez and Aviles were escorted into their shared cell and locked inside on the afternoon of Sept. 8, 2021. Aviles was last seen alive at that time.

The following morning, officers responded to the cell and found Aviles’ body concealed in his bed beneath a sheet, with a towel covering his head. Hernandez was removed from the cell and told officers Aviles was “unresponsive.”

Investigators found Aviles had significant injuries to his face and neck. The District Attorney’s Office said shoe prints found on Aviles’ face and neck matched the bottom of the shoes Hernandez was wearing.

An autopsy determined Aviles died from blunt force trauma and strangulation.

Kern County Jury Rejects Self-Defense Claim

During trial, Hernandez testified that Aviles attacked him and claimed he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors said the jury rejected that claim after considering evidence that Hernandez attempted to conceal Aviles’ body and that Hernandez did not have injuries consistent with his account.

“Hernandez has demonstrated a clear and ongoing pattern of violence that has persisted even during incarceration,” District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in a statement. “Despite his attempt to justify his actions as self-defense, the jury rightfully rejected that claim after carefully considering the evidence. This conviction will ensure that he faces the full consequences of his heinous crime.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 14. Hernandez faces an additional sentence of 35 years to life.

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