LAKEPORT — A juror”s illness Wednesday delayed the dual-jury trial of two Clearlake Oaks men accused of killing a toddler and shooting a handful of other people late last spring.
Paul William Braden, 22, and Orlando Joseph Lopez Jr., 24, face 15 felonies — including one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder — and more than 30 special allegations in connection with a late-night shooting June 18 in Clearlake.
Authorities allege the two men shot into a crowd gathered for a barbecue, killing Skyler Rapp, 4, and injuring five others.
Braden and Lopez, who have denied any wrongdoing, are standing trial in the same courtroom but have different lawyers and separate juries.
The court learned Tuesday that one regular juror on the Braden jury was sick and could not serve Wednesday, Judge Doris L. Shockley said during the morning session at the Lake County Courthouse.
As a result, all jurors were advised not to come to court Wednesday.
Shockley said the ill juror expected to be able to return Thursday.
The Braden jury is down to four alternates because of previous medical issues, and defense attorney Doug Rhoades said he would have been reluctant to reduce that total by replacing the sick juror Wednesday.
The Lopez jury has all seven of its original alternates.
The trial is set to reconvene Thursday at 9 a.m. in Department 1.
Medical delays impacted the proceedings earlier in the month when attorney Stephen Carter, who represents Lopez, was unavailable for four trial days because of an illness.
Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson, who is prosecuting the case, originally estimated the trial would last until early May but said Wednesday it now could run into the middle of May.
Testimony started on Feb. 29.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37. Follow trial coverage live on Twitter @JeremyDWalsh or by searching #BradenLopez.
