Probation in Aiello Case

A woman who had been jailed after the death of a former Bay Area Reporter writer has been sentenced to five years probation in the case.

Sabrina Ahrens-Gravelle, 40, pleaded no contest in June to possession of methamphetamine.

Ahrens-Gravelle was reportedly with Kyle Billy Fletcher, 35, when Fletcher allegedly strangled to death Daniel James Aiello, 53, April 15 in Sacramento, where Aiello lived.

But Ahrens-Gravelle's attorney, Paul Irish, said Friday, August 14 that his client had been sleeping in a vehicle around the time Fletcher allegedly murdered Aiello.

Aiello, a gay man, worked for the B.A.R. as a freelance writer who covered marriage equality and other issues before opening Midtown Moped shop in Sacramento. He's been described as a "passionate" journalist and generous friend.

Ahrens-Gravelle was more than an hour late to her court appearance. She declined to speak with the B.A.R. as she entered the Sacramento County Mail Jail, where her courtroom was located.

"I'm busy," she said when the B.A.R. approached her. As the reporter walked behind her into the building, she said, "Please don't follow me. That's harassment."

Inside the courtroom, Irish told Judge Michael G. Bowman that his client is working two jobs and is "supporting minor children."

Bowman told Ahrens-Gravelle he hopes she thinks about her kids the next time she's "out on the street" associating with an alleged murderer.

"Your children are going to ask you, 'Why was he more important than me?'" Bowman said.

The judge ordered Ahrens-Gravelle to attend drug treatment as a condition of her probation and gave her credit for 140 days time served in jail. Irish said she doesn't have a prior criminal record.

Besides the meth possession, prosecutors had also charged Ahrens-Gravelle with residential burglary and transportation and sale of meth. The latter charges were dismissed Friday. She was arrested in April, along with Fletcher, but she's been out of custody since entering her no contest plea in June.

Fletcher is being charged with Aiello's murder, along with robbery and the burglary and drug counts.

As of July, Fletcher hadn't entered a plea. He was scheduled for a settlement conference Friday, but that was continued to September 18. He remains in custody.

The Sacramento County Coroner's office has determined Aiello was strangled to death and died at 3:51 a.m.

Police have said officers responded at 3:20 a.m. April 15 to Aiello's shop, at 1326 X Street, after a neighbor reported hearing "loud noises and crashing."

Fletcher and Ahrens-Gravelle were allegedly at the scene loading items into a vehicle, and they were arrested. Aiello, who was found inside the building, was soon pronounced dead.

Friday, Irish told the B.A.R. that Ahrens-Gravelle had pleaded no contest to having "controlled substances in a vehicle where she was asleep at the time law enforcement arrived."

Asked about what happened the night of Aiello's killing, Irish quipped, "I wasn't there." He declined to say what Ahrens-Gravelle had told him about what had gone on, citing attorney-client privilege, and he wouldn't comment on what she'd been doing at the moped shop.

"I can't get into the facts of the case," Irish said.

However, Ahrens-Gravelle could be called into court to talk about what happened the night of Aiello's death.

Irish said, "The agreement we have" with the district attorney doesn't include any condition that his client testify, but she may be asked to.

He said that to his knowledge, Ahrens-Gravelle didn't know Aiello. He wouldn't comment about what her relationship with Fletcher was.

Attorney Jeff Raven, who previously represented Ahrens-Gravelle, said earlier this year that she "had no knowledge or role in the homicide."

Raven said Fletcher had "portrayed himself, to her and to the world, as part owner and partner of the moped shop," and as far as his former client had known, he'd gone to Aiello's shop that night "to get his belongings." (The B.A.R. hasn't found any records indicating Fletcher actually co-owned Aiello's shop.)

A sheriff's department spokeswoman has said Ahrens-Gravelle listed Chico as her city of residence.