Healdsburg Man Convicted of 2nd Degree Murder Denied Parole for the 16th Time

District Attorney Jill Ravitch has announced that on April 10, 2018, the California Board of Prison Terms denied parole for the 16^th time to 70-year-old Manuel Avalos Flores, who was convicted of the 2^nd degree murder of 23 year old Ricoberto Arroyo in 1981.

In 1981, Inmate Flores and Victim Ricoberto Arroyo each lived in Sonoma County and had known each other in their native state of Mexico. According to Flores, he held a grudge against Mr. Arroyo because he believed him to be responsible for ending a romantic relationship that Flores had in Mexico. Witnesses stated that Flores always carried a .38 caliber handgun with him.

On the evening of January 16, 1981, Flores went out drinking with three companions and late in the evening ended up at a bar in Windsor. Upon arrival, Flores saw that Mr. Arroyo was present at the bar. Witnesses stated that Mr. Arroyo was not drinking heavily or otherwise causing any disturbances that evening. 

Flores followed Arroyo out of the bar and confronted and shot him multiple times. He then threatened his companions unless they drove him away. He was ultimately apprehended and convicted of 2^nd degree murder. 

Flores was subsequently convicted of the 2^nd degree murder of Mr. Arroyo. 

On April 10, 2018, at a parole hearing at San Quentin, Flores testified and the board considered prison files and psychiatric evaluations, the California Board of Prison Terms issued a three year denial of parole, stating Flores “lacks even the most basic level of insight into why he murdered an unarmed man.” Additionally, Commissioners found that “despite Flores’ advanced age, he is still strong enough to pull a trigger, and if he was to become intoxicated and angry in the community again, that might happen.” 

Flores will not be eligible for parole again until April 10, 2021 at which time another hearing on the issue will occur. 

Deputy District Attorney Jamie Kandel appeared at the hearing in opposition of Flores’s release on parole on behalf of the prosecution.