A Los Angeles County jury has recommended life in prison without parole for two men convicted of murdering a man and his stepdaughter on New Year’s Eve in 2006.

A judge has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Matthew Ian Koontz, 36, and Jonathan Blackwell, 29. Koontz and Blackwell were convicted in January of first-degree murder for killing Raul Cruz and Jessica Cipriano.

Cruz and Cipriano were fatally shot when Koontz and Blackwell broke into their apartment on December 31, 2006. Micaela Estrada, Cipriano’s mother and Cruz’s common-law wife, was wounded.

The wife of an Olympic medalist accused of first-degree murder still remains in custody after a judge lowered her bail to $1 million.

Jane Laut is accused of murdering her husband, Dave Laut. Laut won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic games. Laut pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Laut initially told investigators that her husband went outside to investigate shooting sounds, and moments later she heard shots fired. Police believed Laut at first, but then was able to determine that the killing was not a random act of violence committed by intruders.

Laut’s attorney, Ron Bamieh, said his client was acting in self-defense, contradicting the comments previously made by Laut when she was first questioned about the killings. According to Bamieh, Dave Laut got drunk and threatened to kill Jane, their son, and their dogs. Dave Laut’s BAC at the time of his death was .05 percent.

A teenager has been arrested on murder charges for allegedly killing a gang intervention worker.

According to police, 40-year-old Ronald Barron confronted the teen as he was tagging a wall on Pico Boulevard. The teen then pulled out a gun and shot Barron.

Barron, who worked as a gang intervention worker with the Amer-I-can program, was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to witnesses, the teenager calmly walked away from the scene after shooting Barron, disappearing into a residential area. He was later apprehended by gang and homicide detectives. The suspect is not believed to be associated with any gangs, but is a known tagger. His name is not being released due to his age, which is 16.

Nothing is more serious than being charged with murder, especially murder in the first degree. If you or a family member has been arrested for murder, hiring a highly skilled criminal defense attorney is absolutely essential. At Okabe & Haushalter, we are committed to helping clients throughout Los Angeles and South Bay fight their criminal charges. Whether you are facing a simple misdemeanor or a life-changing felony, such as murder, you can trust a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter to work diligently in pursuing the best possible end result for you!

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to learn more about our criminal defense services.

A 14-year-old Colorado boy is being tried as an adult for the murder of his parents.

John Caudle admitted to authorities that he killed his mother and stepfather because he didn’t want to do his chores.

According to police, Caudle took two .22 caliber pistols from his parents’ gun safe and fatally shot his mother after they got into an argument over taking out the trash. He then hid in the laundry room until his stepfather walked by. That’s when he shot and killed him.

Shortly after killing his parents Caudle proceeded to play on a computer and watch movies. He even went to school the next morning before trying to flee in the family’s truck.

Authorities have chosen to charge Caudle as an adult. Because he is technically a minor, they could have tried him in juvenile court. When minors are tried as adults it is usually because they not only committed a heinous crime, but also because they fully understood the consequences of their actions at the time the crime took place.  

Caudle faces two counts of first-degree murder. Because he is being tried as an adult he could be sentenced to a lifetime in prison if he is found guilty.