Man facing life in murder case gets four years in plea bargain
POMONA -- A 29-year-old man who potentially faced a life sentence in a man's shooting death reached a plea agreement with prosecutors that carried a four-year sentence.
Andrew Lopez Jr. was charged with murder for the killing of Rudy Partida, 38, who was shot to death June 14, 2009 in a home in the 2300 block of Gambier Drive in Pomona.
Because the murder charge in prosecutors' complaint carried allegations that Lopez, of Pomona, used a gun and killed Partida to benefit a gang, he could have faced a prison sentence of at least 75 years to life.
First-degree murder, as well as gun and gang allegations, each carry sentences of 25 years to life.
Lopez's sentence could have been further lengthened because of his criminal history. He had five felony convictions between 2002 and the time of the shooting, prosecutors alleged.
When Lopez appeared in Pomona Superior Court June 9 for a preliminary hearing, he pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and a weapons charge as part of a plea bargain.
Lopez was sentenced to four years in prison.
Lopez's prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd, referred questions about the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's public relations staff.
"After a careful evaluation of the existing evidence, we felt that the plea and sentence were the most equitable solution to this case," said spokeswoman Shiara Dávila-Morales. "The plea was presented to the court, which approved."
In a court declaration requesting money for forensic testing, Lopez's defense attorney said authorities found gunshot residue on Partida's hands, indicating he may have fired a gun shortly before his death.
One last final blow to the American Justice system,it's all gone up in flames.Maybe we should start doing justice with our own hands,like they do in 3rd world countries,i mean they also have a broken justice system as well.
well as rudy.partida aunt they were unfair about that.i belive they should of through the book at him cause he has a past record of gangs and went to prison before.i know that if they went all the way to trail we the family of rudy.partida would of won it. to me the da didn t want to go and fight for rudy.as a person andrew had no right to take away rudy.partida like that,cause if it was all the way around and rudy killed andrew they would of through the books at him.so do u think that fair.i think they are trying to get away with this by them saying rudy had gun residue on his hands.i would like to see the police report cause i have report when he past away.from la corners office.
Everybody is ready to call my son the bad one. But facts are facts the victim went to the house where my son was staying its stated in court documents.Now if someone goes with a gun to where your sleeping with your kids with intentions of using it what would you do?He took the plea to spare his kids a trial as they were witnesses to the whole thing! Yeah my son has a past but the victim had the same kind of past.So before you judge get all the facts to learn the truth!
nomatter what the plea deal was. im sure the court knew exactly what they where doing. they had 2 have enough evidence 2 make the decision that they did. the news paper can only write what they can. an like the mother said. THE VICTIM HAD A PAST 2. HE WENT INSIDE HER SONS HOME WITH A GUN WHERE HIS KIDS WHERE SLEEPING. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF A MONSTER THIS VICTIM REALY WAS.. and 2 the aunt. i know its hard 4 u 2 except what has happened. but he went in2 that persons home with a gun. what was his intentions 4 that?? ask urself that question an maybe youll except what has happened..
only in pomona said:
nomatter what the plea deal was. im sure the court knew exactly what they where doing. they had 2 have enough evidence 2 make the decision that they did. the news paper can only write what they can. an like the mother said. THE VICTIM HAD A PAST 2. HE WENT INSIDE HER SONS HOME WITH A GUN WHERE HIS KIDS WHERE SLEEPING. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF A MONSTER THIS VICTIM REALY WAS.. and 2 the aunt. i know its hard 4 u 2 except what has happened. but he went in2 that persons home with a gun. what was his intentions 4 that?? ask urself that question an maybe youll except what has happened
They both sound like real winners...typical gang bangers, going after eachother because they live on different streets. Let's get this straight, they own nothing, so stop fighting over where you live...no one wants to go to your part of town anyways!
well my nephew my be gone but never for gotten...the really fact of this all is that my nephew went into the house cause he was always welcome there by that b.... andrew .lopez wife and they both know it..they were both getting my nephew moneys...my nephew didn't get a fear trail in pomona courts...once a again they let a killer go free...but guess what everybody my cuz gary never coming home cause he also didn't get a fear trail in pomonas court too..first time he did something and trip out on this that guy only got shot on his leg and they trough the books on him...so to me the courts r not fear...no one had the right to take away my nephew...but i bet if the picture was all the way around it would of been a differece story and u all know it would..
No one had the right to take ernie away either but yet they did and u have nerve to continue pretending like ur nephew played no part in this tragedy. Maybe u should be mad at the person who asked him to go to the house that night or him for actually going. We all have suffered loss and are hurt by this. Let's not lose anymore innocent people.
my nephew rudy is the victim here....u all act like its ur lost but its r lost..yea we all suffereed loss.my nephew gone so how can he have part in this tragedy....well am mad at b....who invited my nephew in her house and she knows it...for a fact.