Attempted murder suspect pleads guilty to lesser charges

The man charged with attempting to kill his estranged wife in Corning has pleaded guilty to reduced charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26.

In a plea agreement with the Tehama County District Attorney's Office, Humberto Perez Jr., 23, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in Tehama County Superior Court on Monday to assault with a deadly weapon by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, with special allegations of great bodily injury domestic violence, having a prior felony conviction and use of deadly weapon

Perez was charged with attempted murder with special allegations of having a prior felony conviction, mayhem, first-degree burglary with a person present, corporal injury to a spouse, and use of a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury.

Corning police said they were called out to an apartment complex on Kaufman Avenue at 5:49 a.m. on July 12, and found a 28-year-old woman, Perez's wife, Victoria Stapleton, suffering from stab wounds to her abdomen and her right forearm.

Police said it appeared that Perez entered the apartment through a bedroom window. A screen was found ripped out.

Neighbors said Stapleton had been in bed with the couple's 2-month-old baby and her 3-year-old child at the time of the attack.

The neighbors said two other children, 7 and 10, were also in the home. Perez reportedly fled the home before police arrived, but was apprehended a short time later about a block east of where the stabbing occurred, police said.