The Antelope Valley Times

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Man convicted of murdering ATV rider in the desert

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Arturo Lopez faces a maximum possible sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.
Arturo Lopez faces a maximum possible sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

LANCASTER – A Lancaster man was convicted Thursday of killing a man who was riding his all-terrain vehicle in the desert more than two years ago.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before finding Arturo Lopez guilty of second-degree murder for the Feb. 23, 2014, shooting death of Stephen Finson, 47, of Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Lopez, 40, was also convicted of one count each of conspiracy to commit a crime and offering false evidence, along with three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

On Feb. 23, 2014, Finson went for a desert ride on his all-terrain vehicle but did not return home. After a desperate all-night search by his family members, Finson’s body was located the next morning near 135th Street East and Avenue H.

Stephen L. Finson
Stephen L. Finson

The Navy veteran was still wearing his helmet, and his Honda ATC 250R was upright some 40 to 50 feet north of the dry wash, sheriff’s officials said.

An autopsy revealed that Finson died from a gunshot to the head that went through the back of his helmet and exited through his open face mask, homicide detectives said.

More than a month after Finson’s death, and two weeks after a $10,000 reward was offered to help solve the crime, authorities were tipped off to ex-convict Arturo Lopez. He was arrested by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on April 30, 2014.

Finson was found shot to death near his ATV in the 13300 block of East Avenue H.
Finson was found shot to death near his ATV in the 13300 block of East Avenue H.

At a preliminary court hearing in May of 2014, Gerardo Amaya testified that he was riding in a vehicle with Lopez on Feb. 23, 2014, when Lopez stopped the car and said he wanted to “test fire a new pistol.” Lopez then got out of the car and fired his weapon twice towards the desert, Amaya testified.

At the preliminary court hearing, Lopez’s ex-girlfriend testified that Lopez told her he thought he shot and killed someone, and then asked her to hide him from law enforcement.

Sentencing for Lopez is scheduled for July 14 in Department A16 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch. Lopez faces a maximum possible sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

Previous related stories:

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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15 comments for "Man convicted of murdering ATV rider in the desert"

  1. If Mike and others like him had brains, they’d want to befriend minority persons as they become the majority in the future.

    Otherwise, they will deservedly get the same treatment from them that they’ve given minorities up till now.

    Smart people would do that but we’re talking Mike here. He shows no signs of intelligent life.

  2. Lets hope this POS never sees freedom again. He killed my friend Steve. RIP BUDDY. WE MISS U

  5. Wanted to test fire a pistol? Thought he might have hit the back of the head of a single rider in an open field on a loud ATV throwing up dust, with a pistol? And it being someone who served our country that this POS lives in? Bring back the noose and hang him.

    • Deport him where? As a criminal, he’s white. Had he been the victim, then we could classify him as Hispanic.

        • You narrow minded POS, because the last name is Lopez, he is illegal? I know a crapload of whites that have Hispanic last names and many Hispanics with Anglo names. You are a duplicate of Donald Trump, everyone, this is a perfect example that you can be a 5th or 6th generation Hispanic American and you will never be accepted, judging by your last name you will always be just another wetback for some pinche gringos culeros. Stop trying to assimilate, they don’t give a FXCX.