Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/21/04

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Spencer Brady

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

JURY CONVICTS TEEN OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

Today, a Sonoma County Jury convicted Marco Lopez of first degree murder in the stabbing death of a seventy-four-year-old Sebastopol man. The jury also found to be true the special circumstances that the murder was committed during the commission of the crimes of robbery and burglary. The crime took place on October 9, 2002 at the Sebastopol home of the victim. Since the defendant was 15 years old at the time of the murder, Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong has the discretion to sentence Mr. Lopez to either life without the possibility of parole, or for a term of 25 years to life.

In addition to the murder charge, the jury convicted Lopez of robbery, burglary, and auto theft and found to be true that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim. If he is sentenced consecutively on each of these counts, the defendant could receive an additional 13 years in prison. A sentencing date of February 24, 2005 has been set by the court.

Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady, who is assigned to the District Attorney Homicide Unit, was the prosecuting trial attorney. The investigation of this case was conducted by Sonoma County Sheriff Detectives Brad Burke, Dave Thompson and Spencer Crum. Mr. Brady was also assisted by District Attorney Investigator Bob Simerson and District Attorney Legal Assistant Darlene Vanderpool.