News Release – Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
WEST COVINA – A Hollywood man accused of beating his father to death with a dumbbell at an Irwindale storage facility was convicted today of murder and other crimes, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Stacy Okun-Wiese said Jonathan Martinez Pedraza, 26, was convicted of one count each of first-degree murder and felony vandalism, and two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving.
Judge Mike Camacho said the defendant will be sentenced on Feb. 10 in Department 5 of West Covina Superior Court. Pedraza faces a maximum sentence of 27 years to life in state prison.
Jurors, who deliberated about two hours following a day-and-a-half trial, also found true an allegation that the defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a dumbbell.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Pedraza delivered at least five powerful blows to his 62-year-old father’s head causing 10 lacerations and a fractured skull.
Pedraza fled the scene immediately following the fatal attack and was arrested in Baldwin Park after colliding with two vehicles.
The case was investigated by authorities of the Irwindale Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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Shiara Dávila-Morales
Media Relations Division
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
(213) 974-6724
(213) 974-3528
http://da.lacounty.gov
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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