A man with seven prior felony convictions was found guilty of first-degree murder in a fatal stabbing in a Lakewood convenience store parking lot.
Lawrence Arellano, 50, was convicted by a Jefferson County jury Thursday in the fatal stabbing of James Miller, according to the Jefferson County district attorney’s office. The jury deliberated for two hours in finding the defendant guilty.
On night of Jan. 4, 2017, co-defendant Charles Joseph Martinez, 34, met Miller at a store in the 1100 block of South Sheridan Boulevard, according to a news release.Martinez was aware that Miller owed an alleged drug debt to Arellano, who was hiding in the dark. When Miller came out of the store, Arellano stabbed him.
Martinez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced Feb. 21 to 28 years in prison.
Arellano will be sentenced June 13 to life in prison without parole.
