Man sentenced to prison for fatal Pismo Beach stabbing
Andrew Frederick Rodriguez.
– San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that Andrew Frederick Rodriguez (35) has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the stabbing death of Jonathan Campbell Perez (39), which occurred on Sept. 11, 2024, in the city of Pismo Beach.
Rodriguez pled guilty on Oct. 20 to involuntary manslaughter and admitted that he was previously convicted of residential burglary in Ventura County in 2010. He also admitted that he served a term in state prison for sex crimes committed in 2010 in Ventura County. The burglary conviction is a violent offense and is considered a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law.
Rodriguez was sentenced under a plea agreement to serve eight years in state prison. The court imposed a four-year term, which is the maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter, and then doubled it to eight years based on his prior strike offense under California’s Three Strikes Law.
The crime occurred in Pismo Beach on Sept. 11 when Rodriguez inflicted a single stab wound to Jonathan “Jonny” Perez, resulting in Perez’s death. Prosecutors initially filed the case as second-degree murder, but additional investigation led to the filing of the manslaughter charge and the eight-year prison sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, Perez’s mother, brother, aunts, cousin, and friends gave statements describing the impact of his death. Kimberly Moen-Perez, Perez’s mother, described him as “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.” She noted community support following his death, stating “they have continued to lift us; grieving, comforting, and honoring Jonny in ways that reflect the meaningful connections he built.” She said Perez’s Celebration of Life was attended by hundreds.
Daniel Perez, Jonathan’s brother, said, “Every memory of my childhood, every milestone, every joy, and every mistake is intertwined with him. We were only 17 months apart and 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 added that Jonathan’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.”
Daniel also described the community response, noting “and yet – even in the darkest of grief – I know how lucky I am to have this army that stands behind me… We have a community that prays for peace in our hearts. They check in on me. They text me. They call me. They stop by my house. They stop by my work. They hug me. They love me. Unconditionally and endlessly.”
The Pismo Beach Police Department and the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The effort was led by Senior District Attorney Investigator Matthew Aanerud. Victim Advocate Tristan Millage provided support to the victim’s family.
