| For Immediate Release Case # 11ZF0112 August 22, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN CONVICTED OF SHOOTING-MURDER IN HUNTINGTON BEACH PARK
*Female co-defendant is pending trial in this case
SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of shooting and murdering a man in a Huntington Beach park after setting up a meeting to return a stolen cell phone. Derek Christopher Adams, 23, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of second degree murder, grand theft, first degree residential burglary, and aggravated assault with true finding on the sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death and the personal use of a firearm. Adams faces a maximum sentence of 48 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Oct. 19, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-42, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Co-defendant Marissa Star Bilotti, 21, Huntington Beach, (Case #11ZF0123) is charged with one felony count each of murder, aggravated assault, and first degree residential burglary with sentencing enhancements for being armed with a firearm and knowingly being vicariously armed with a firearm. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 35 years and four months to life in state prison. Bilotti is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 21, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-41.
Adams has been convicted of the following and Bilotti is accused of the following:
Residential Robbery and Burglary of Cody Mosher
At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2010, Adams and his female friend, Bilotti, went to the Newport Beach home of Cody Masher, a parolee who was dating a woman in whom Adams was romantically interested. The defendants broke down the door and entered Mosher’s home to confront him and his girlfriend. They got into a verbal argument with Mosher’s girlfriend and stole money from her purse.
Bilotti is accused of continuing to argue with the girlfriend as Adams went into the kitchen to retrieve a knife. Adams then punched and hit Mosher before stabbing him, causing a superficial wound. The defendants stole Mosher’s cell phone and fled the scene.
Throughout the day, Adams used Mosher’s cell phone to send text messages to Mosher’s girlfriend. He arranged to meet Mosher’s girlfriend at Murdy Park in Huntington Beach to return Mosher’s cell phone.
Murder of Gregory Heintz
Bilotti is accused of covering the license plate of her car and driving Adams to the park. She is accused of concealing a folding knife in her vagina and waiting in the car. Adams was armed with a firearm and got out of the car to wait for Mosher’s girlfriend.