Barela was convicted by a jury of attempted murder and domestic battery for trying to kill his live-in girlfriend. After a night of drinking on September 15, 2002, Barela returned home to Jane Doe. He forced her into a closet, lit a match, and set her clothes on fire by burning them on the stove. He then threatened her by telling her she would burn like the match.
On December 24, 2004, Barela became angry with Jane Doe and her 8-year-old grandson. He cursed the child, and when Doe tried to stop him, he went into his room and returned with a 2 x 4 plank of wood. Barela approached the victim from behind while she sat watching television. He held the plank in his hand and began striking her with force in the head. He beat her multiple times, finally breaking the wood in two pieces. Jane Doe slumped to the ground and attempted to crawl away as her grandson looked on in horror, but Barela began hitting her again with the larger remaining piece of wood.
Barela has a history of domestic violence. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to corporal injury for abusing his then live-in girlfriend. He punched her and threatened to cut off her fingers and mess up her face so that other men wouldnt find her attractive. In 1998, he received a strike for abusing another female victim whom he strangled until she fell unconscious. When she awoke, he wrapped a leather jump rope around her neck, stood on her back as she lay on the floor and pulled up on the rope until the victim agreed to be quiet. He pleaded guilty to corporal injury as a repeat offender and assault with a deadly weapon.
For the 2004 attempted murder case, Barela received 34 years to life in prison.
