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Man’s conviction upheld for ATV rider’s shooting death in desert

by City News Service • May 17, 2023 9 Comments

[Main image] Authorities investigate the scene where Stephen Finson was found dead in February of 2014. [Inset] Arturo Lopez and victim Stephen Finson.
A state appellate court panel on Wednesday, May 17, upheld a Lancaster man’s conviction for the shooting death of an all-terrain vehicle enthusiast in the desert more than nine years ago.

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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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Home, Lancaster

9 comments for "Man’s conviction upheld for ATV rider’s shooting death in desert"

  1. Lily says

    July 28, 2023 at 9:05 am

    “Has justice rendered on them” thats hysterical!! What world do you live in Mr Morality? The fact that you think the justice system does does their job pretty well screams ignorance on your part. You dont have to be a criminal or know a criminal to know how corrupt and unjust the justice system is. SMH

    Reply
  2. Gascon says

    May 18, 2023 at 6:01 pm

    He’ll be out on soon I’m sure. Thank you Progressives

    Reply
    • Dan says

      May 18, 2023 at 6:21 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Assgon says

        May 18, 2023 at 6:23 pm

        F you and your criminal son!

        Reply
      • Morality says

        May 21, 2023 at 4:43 pm

        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.

        Reply
    • Tim Scott says

      May 21, 2023 at 5:08 pm

      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.

      Reply
  3. Dan says

    May 17, 2023 at 3:10 pm

    LACSD homicide did an excellent job on this case. Text book perfect.

    Reply
    • John says

      May 17, 2023 at 3:56 pm

      yep, he aimed, he fired, he murdered.

      POS

      Reply
    • Dano says

      May 18, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      Book’em, Dano….

      Reply

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