The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the defense’s contention that Arturo Lopez‘s attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel in his retrial by failing to object to testimony from two of Lopez’s former girlfriends about his prior firearm use.
Lopez was convicted in 2021 of second-degree murder for the Feb. 23, 2014, shooting of Stephen Finson, 47, of Lancaster, who was found on the ground near his ATV after his wife reported him missing.
His 2016 conviction on the same charge was overturned by a state appellate court panel, which ruled in 2018 that the trial court had erroneously instructed jurors in Lopez’s trial on two theories of guilt — one which was legally correct and the other which was legally incorrect.
In the latest ruling, Presiding Justice Dennis Perluss wrote on behalf of the panel, “The prosecution’s theory of the case was that Lopez purposefully shot Finson, a moving target, from at least 100 yards away. As defendant’s own expert acknowledged, such a shot would require proficiency with firearms. Accordingly, Lopez’s almost daily target practice, during which he often shot at small animals, was relevant to his familiarity with firearms and his ability to hit a moving target from a distance.”
The appellate court panel also noted that the testimony from Lopez’s two ex-girlfriends was relevant to refute the defense’s argument that the shooting occurred accidentally and to undermine an account by Lopez’s friend that Lopez had stopped along the road to test-fire a handgun.
“Given the evidence that Lopez often shot guns on his property — even multiple times inside his home — there was no need for him to test-fire a gun from the side of the road,” Perluss wrote, with Associate Justices John Segal and Gail Ruderman Feuer concurring in the ruling, which noted that the “frequency and nature of Lopez’s prior firearms experience was highly probative of his ability to shoot Finson from a distance.”
Lopez, now 47, is serving a 45-year-to-life state prison sentence.
Previous related stories:
Man’s conviction reversed for ATV rider’s killing in the desert
Lancaster man gets 45 to life for ATV rider’s murder in the desert
Man convicted of murdering ATV rider in the desert
2 plead to accessory in murder of Lancaster ATC rider
Man ordered to trial for murder of ATC rider
Felon pleads not guilty to Stephen Finson’s murder
Man charged with murder of Stephen Finson
Suspect arrested for the murder of Stephen Finson
Memorial service to be held for Stephen Finson
Missing man found shot to death
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Gascon says
He’ll be out on soon I’m sure. Thank you Progressives
Dan says
Sure you hate progressives until it is your case that needs progress. Or your son’s case needs a little Gascon progress. everyone is perfect until the imperfections show. We all can use a little progressive help. You know what I mean?
Assgon says
F you and your criminal son!
Morality says
No Dan. We don’t know what you mean. Because most of us aren’t criminals like you obviously are. Only people who have had justice exercised upon them or someone they know feels the way you do. Nothing in life is perfect, but the justice system does its job pretty well. Gascon has done nothing but enabled criminals and created an entire generation of new victims with his policies.
Tim Scott says
LOL…if you are sure that a guy ten years into a 45 to life “will be out soon” you need to be reconnected to reality.
Dan says
LACSD homicide did an excellent job on this case. Text book perfect.
John says
yep, he aimed, he fired, he murdered.
POS
Dano says
Book’em, Dano….