Man convicted in Pismo Beach stabbing sentenced to state prison
The man who admitted to fatally stabbing a “known acquaintance” in Pismo Beach was sentenced to eight years in state prison on Wednesday.
Andrew Rodriguez, 35, of Santa Maria fatally stabbed 39-year-old Jonathan Perez in the 1200 block of Price Street on Sept. 11, 2024.
He was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office lowered the charge to involuntary manslaughter after “additional investigation.”
In a Tuesday news release, the District Attorney’s Office said it could not share all facts of the investigation, but said “the uncertainty of what happened prior to the stabbing injury, and specifically how the stabbing occurred, led to our conclusion that both first-degree and second-degree murder could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The agency said Rodriguez inflicted a single-stab wound that resulted in Perez’s death.
Rodriguez reportedly fled to Ventura County following the stabbing and attempted suicide. Pismo Beach police officers took him into custody once he was released.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Oct. 20, court records show, and agreed to an 8-year state prison sentence in a plea deal.
Involuntary manslaughter typically carries a four-year maximum sentence, but that maximum was doubled because Rodriguez was convicted of a residential burglary — a strike offense under California’s Three Strikes Law — in Ventura County in 2010.
Family remembers Jonny Perez
Several of Perez’s loved ones spoke at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Perez’s mother, Kimberly Moen-Perez, said her son was “independent and private, with a sharp wit and big heart.”
“Genuine, straightforward and full of laughter, he lived life on his own terms. His superpower was connecting with people — a rare gift that made them feel seen, heard and truly cared for,” his mother said, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Daniel Perez, Jonathan’s brother, said every childhood memory, milestone, joy and mistake connected to his brother, whom he was only 17 months apart from.
“Losing him feels like losing a piece of my soul, like losing my reflection, like losing the person who knew every version of me and loved me anyway,” he said in court, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He added that his brother’s life “was a testament to the power of kindness, respect and humor — a testament to the way laughter can heal, the way loyalty can anchor you, the way a single human being can brighten a room simply by existing in it.”
Both Kimberly Moen-Perez and Daniel Perez thanked the community for supporting their family throughout their tragedy.
“They have continued to lift us, grieving, comforting and honoring Jonny in ways that reflect the meaningful connections he built,” Kimberly Moen-Perez said, adding that his celebration of life was attended by hundreds.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
