Case # 15NF1703
Date: October 3, 2017
MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER OF MAN WHO WAS DRAGGED AND RUN OVER BY TRUCK AS HE WAS ROBBED
*Female co-defendant convicted of voluntary manslaughter
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the special circumstances murder of a man who was dragged and run over by his truck as he was robbed in Anaheim.
| Defendant | Charges | Maximum Sentence | Court Date |
| Jasper Bear Belknap, 21, Anaheim
|
Charged on June 23, 2015, with:
Sentencing Enhancement
|
Life in state prison without the possibility of parole | Jury trial opening statements
Oct. 4, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
| Diana Carolina Lopez, 29, Transient | Pleaded guilty on Oct. 2, 2017, to:
|
11 years in state prison | Sentencing
Nov. 3, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- Co-defendant Lopez knew the victim, 45-year-old Felipe Lugo, and knew that he often carried large quantities of cash.
- On June 16, 2015, Lopez asked the victim to use his truck and drove to pick up Belknap, who is accused of hiding in the rear seat of the truck cab.
- Lopez returned to Anaheim and picked up Lugo, who sat in the passenger seat.
- As Lopez drove, Belknap is accused of entering the front seat and attacking the victim in an attempt to rob him.
- Lugo fell halfway out of the truck from the passenger side door.
- The victim was dragged by for approximately 300 feet before falling from the vehicle and being run over by the truck.
- The Anaheim Police Department (APD) responded to the scene and the victim was pronounced dead as a result of blunt force trauma injuries.
- APD investigated this case and located and arrested the defendants on June 19, 2015.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney, Homicide Unit