Abundis convicted of killing 2-year-old
Molly R. Okeon
PASADENA - An Alhambra man is facing the possibility of life in prison after a jury convicted him Thursday of killing his 2-year-old grandniece more than two years ago.
After deliberating for one day, jurors found Armando Abundis Sr., 35, guilty of involuntary manslaughter, assault on a child causing death, and child abuse likely to produce great bodily harm in the death of Sarah Angelina Chavez.
Prosecutors said they would ask for a sentence of 25 years to life at Abundis' April 28 sentencing. He remained held without bail.
Armando had been charged with second-degree murder - the unlawful killing of another with the intent to kill, but without deliberation and premeditation.
But the jury agreed on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, the unlawful killing of another person without the intent to kill.
While deliberating, jurors asked the judge to clarify whether convicting someone of murder meant the defendant knew that the act he was committing was dangerous to human life, said Deputy District Attorney Franco Baratta.
He surmised that the jury believed Abundis beat the child, but that "his awareness was lacking."
Baratta said he believed "the jury did the job we asked them to do."
"Little Sarah reached out and touched me when they read that verdict," said Baratta, choking up. "I was more concerned that justice be done for her."
Armando's wife, Frances Abundis, now 38, originally faced the same charges as her husband. But she pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact, in exchange for her testimony against her husband. She was released from jail in November 2006, after being held for 14 months.
"It's closure for us," said a weeping Paulina Ortiz, Frances Abundis' sister. "We've been through so much. We don't have Sarah, but Sarah spoke through 12 people today."
Police found the toddler, who Frances Abundis was caring for on behalf of her niece, not breathing at about 6:50a.m. on Oct. 11, 2005, in the couple's Alhambra apartment in the 1700 block of South Second Street after the woman made a frantic 9-1-1 call.
During trial for Armando Abundis, county coroner Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. David Whiteman testified that the cause of the girl's death was a blow to the lower abdomen that severed a portion of her small intestine.
He said the blow must have been inflicted by an adult and could have happened up to 18 hours before she died.
Although no witnesses testified that they saw Abundis strike the fatal blow, Baratta told jurors Armando had been alone with the girl for 3 1/2 hours the night before she died. That apparently was enough to convince jurors to convict him in Sarah's death.
On Thursday, there were mixed emotions in courtroom, which was filled with both Armando's and Frances' family and friends. While Frances' family cried with joy as the guilty verdicts were read, Armando's family seemed momentarily pleased to hear he was acquitted of the second-degree murder charge.
However, when they heard he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, many of them shook their heads.
Armando's family and friends declined to comment.
Baratta said he believed the month-and-a-half-long trial was slowed down considerably by the fact that Abundis went through five attorneys.
In addition, Baratta himself suffered a heart attack in April 2006 and had to bring on another prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Lou Parise, to assist.
molly.okeon@sgvn.com