Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 49-year-old John Avent of the Town of Tonawanda has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on the charge Murder in the Second Degree.

Between March 3, 2016 and March 8, 2016, the defendant is accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, 51-year-old Roberta Rybinski in their Newell Avenue apartment in the Town of Tonawanda.

Avent, who pleaded not guilty, faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years to life if he is convicted of the charge.

Acting DA Flaherty commends Town of Tonawanda Police Detectives Timothy Connolly, Jeffrey Campanella, Gary Reinhardt and Thomas Oswald for their thorough investigative work.

Avent was remanded to jail without bail with a pre-trial conference scheduled for July 1, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Case.

Assistant District Attorneys Gary W. Hackbush and Matthew S. Szalkowski are prosecuting the case.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.