Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 6/12/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENTS IN HOMICIDE OF MATTHEW TOSTE

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that a Sonoma County criminal grand jury has indicted five Santa Rosa residents for the murder of Matthew Toste on December 3, 2006.   These defendants were also indicted on a number of additional charges involving several gang-related incidents.  This morning, three of the defendants were arraigned on the Indictment.  The two other defendants are in custody and due to appear in court next week. 

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “The death of Matthew Toste was a tragedy for the entire community.  We are pleased that the grand jury returned these important indictments.”   

On June 6, 2008, Joseph Kenneth Lopez Jr., 19 years old, Paul Louis Whiterock, 28, Nicholas Angel Mejia, 30, Raul Leon Lopez-Granados, 20, and Joseph Kenneth Lopez, Sr., 39, were indicted for the murder of Mathew Toste and enhancements involving the gang-related nature of the murder and the use of a semi-automatic firearm.   In addition to the murder charge, all defendants were charged with a felony count of conspiracy, and being active participants in a criminal street gang on December 3, 2006.

The grand jury also returned indictments in four other cases.  Joseph Lopez Jr., Nicholas Mejia, and Raul Lopez-Granados are charged with the attempted premeditated murder on November 16, 2006 of Justin Lawrence, including allegations it was gang-related and a semi-automatic firearm was used. 

Joseph Lopez Jr. is further charged with unlawfully discharging a semi-automatic firearm with gross negligence on September 4, 2006, a gang-related sentencing enhancement, and another felony for being an active participant in a criminal street gang.   He is charged with an additional crime for being a felon in possession of that firearm.

Additionally, Joseph Lopez Jr. and Raul Lopez-Granados are charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on July 9, 2006 on two separate victims.  They are also charged with causing great bodily injury and allegations the assaults were gang-related. 

Finally, Nicholas Mejia is charged with possession of methamphetamine for sales on October 10, 2007.  A gang related enhancement, and an additional felony for being an active participant in a criminal street gang is alleged.

Mejia, Lopez-Granados, Lopez, Sr., were arrested on June 10th and arraigned this morning in Department before the Honorable Dean Beaupre.   The case was put over to Monday, June 16, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. in Deparment 3 for entry of plea.  Lopez Jr. and Whiterock will make their first appearance in court on that date and time.  Lopez Jr. has been in custody on a CYA parole hold in Stockton and Whiterock was taken into custody on the warrant in Butte County and is being transported to Sonoma County. 

The District Attorney’s Office and Santa Rosa Police Department worked closely over the course of the last year and a half to bring the investigation to indictments and arrest. Numerous personnel from both departments, along with the assistance of personnel from other Bay Area law enforcement agencies, worked in collaboration to achieve these indictments.