Hernandez pleads guilty to murder, aggravated child abuse
Alberto Hernandez has pleaded guilty to first degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of his 13-year-old stepdaughter Michelle Fontanez, according to a release from the office of State Attorney Stephen Russell.
Hernandez, 41, was charged in February 2006 rape and murder of Fontanez in their Lehigh Acres home.
Hernandez was sentenced by Judge Edward Volz to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the murder charge and 30 years in prison on the child abuse charge. The sentences will be served concurrently.
This plea agreement was reached as jury selection continued today in Circuit Court. Jury selection began Monday. One count of sexual activity with a child was nolle prossed.
The State Attorney’s office said the agreement was reached in the best interest of the family of the victim as the mother’s wishes are that Hernandez spend the rest of his life in prison to live with what he did instead
of the possibility of the death penalty.