LAKEPORT — Orlando Joseph Lopez Jr. was found guilty on all charges and special allegations Friday stemming from a fatal shooting in Clearlake late last spring.
Lopez, 24, and co-defendant Paul William Braden, 22, faced 15 felonies (including one murder count and five counts of attempted murder) and nearly three dozen special allegations in connection to the shooting.
Authorities allege the men fired shotguns at a group of people gathered for a late-night party on June 18, killing Skylar Rapp, 4, and injuring five others.
The Clearlake Oaks residents, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied the special allegations, stood trial in the same courtroom but had different attorneys and separate juries. The trial encountered numerous delays and spanned nearly the entire calendar year. Jury selection began in January and the trial got under way at the end of February.
The Lopez jury heard closing arguments Thursday and deliberated Friday, while the Braden jury heard closing arguments Friday and is set to begin deliberating Tuesday.
The Lopez jury came back with guilty verdicts on all counts within four hours, according to District Attorney Don Anderson, who added he was pleased with the jury”s decision.
“It”s a just verdict for what happened,” Anderson said. “It”s unfortunate we had to have a trial to begin with. It”s unfortunate that the crime happened.”
Lopez and his attorney, Stephen Carter, were standing when the first guilty count was announced and both sat down shortly afterward. Lopez showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict, which was announced at 4:30 p.m. and lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Around 20 friends and family members of Rapp and the other shooting victims gathered in the courtroom to hear the verdict, just days before the one-year anniversary. They let out a brief cheer after the initial guilty verdict of first-degree murder was announced.
Crystal Pearls, aunt of Rapp, and the third witness to testify, said, “I”m really pleased with the outcome. Justice was way served so far.”
She said she wasn”t sure if a verdict would be in before the anniversary of the shooting.
“I thought that we were going to have to celebrate one year without Skylar with not knowing what the outcome was going to be,” she said. “Skylar was like my grandbaby. I feel so pleased now.”
Judge Doris L. Shockley thanked the jurors for their service in the trial and dismissed them. Shockley said sentencing for Lopez was scheduled for Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at a location to be determined.
Lopez”s attorney, Stephen Carter said Lopez intends to file an appeal.
“We feel there are excellent appellate issues for a higher court to review,” Carter said.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
