By Michael Stoll, Austin Daily Herald

 

Jose Alfonso Francis Avelar Jr., 36, of Albert Lea was charged Thursday in Mower County District Court with felony pattern of stalking conduct and three counts of felony terroristic threats.

According to the court complaint, an officer and a representative of the Crime Victim’s Resource Center met with a woman on Tuesday after she reported that Avelar had threatened her. She said he was released from prison in March after serving time for domestic assault against her and that she previously had an order for protection against him, but it expired June 20.

The complaint states she began receiving text messages from him two days later and had received several throughout July. One text allegedly contained an image of her street with the message, “I’m now in the truck I’m not playing games.” In others, he indicated he was suicidal, allegedly sending an image of a rope and a bridge and another of him with a noose around his neck. He also allegedly sent a picture of her children, saying he would have it in his pocket when the police found his body.

The complaint states Avelar also sent several threatening messages about her and her boyfriend, including one that read, “And if I find out your (sic) around him your (sic) dead,” and another stating, “you try and meet him tonight and I will (expletive) kill you.”

The woman alleged she returned home on the night of July 7 and found Alevar in her daughter’s bedroom with her children. She also alleged that Alevar showed up at her house with a crowbar and threatened to kill her, her boyfriend and himself if he ever saw her with her boyfriend again.

She said she believed he was stalking her and was afraid he would kill her, her boyfriend and himself and was working on getting a new order for protection.

Avelar was arrested by Albert Lea police and transported to the Mower County Jail.

A review of Avelar’s criminal history shows prior convictions for domestic assault and violating a domestic abuse no contact order.

Avelar will appear in court again Aug. 16.

See what happened last night in the PM report here.