Huntington Beach Slaying : Killer of Lover’s Husband Is Given 28 Years to Life

Adam Salas Ramirez, convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of his lover’s husband in Huntington Beach, was sentenced Friday to 28 years to life in prison.

James Hughes, 37, was found dead in his bed about 3 a.m. on Jan. 10, 1984, after his wife, Jeannette Hughes, called police and told them a burglar had hit her in the head, shot her husband and stole their car.

Ramirez, 43, of Stanton, was arrested a short time later while driving Hughes’ car. Prosecutors said Ramirez had planned to switch from Hughes’ car to his own, but realized he had left his car keys in another jacket. That forced him to stay in Hughes’ car. Jeannette Hughes, thinking Ramirez had already made the switch, called police with the burglary story, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors claimed the two plotted to kill James Hughes to collect $440,000 in life insurance.

Hughes’ trial on murder charges in her husband’s death is scheduled to begin Monday.

Ramirez’s son, Adam Jr., 22, testified against his father in exchange for a six-year prison term for his role in the shooting. The younger Ramirez testified he had driven his father to the Hughes home shortly before the shooting and that his father told him he was going to kill Hughes.

Adam Ramirez testified he was at the Hughes house that morning, but that it was Jeannette Hughes who shot her husband after he (Ramirez) tried to talk her out of it. Jurors convicted him after less than a full day of deliberation.

The younger Ramirez is also scheduled to be a key witness against Jeannette Hughes. His own case is pending, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Rick Toohey said he expects him to plead guilty to conspiracy and robbery charges which would result in a six-year sentence.

Superior Court Judge Leonard H. McBride sentenced the older Ramirez to 25 years to life on the murder conviction, an extra two years for use of a firearm, and one extra year for a prior felony conviction.

Ramirez was convicted of grand theft in 1978 after he and his brother, Willie, also convicted in the case, tried to swindle a San Diego savings and loan out of $1.5 million.