Poway Man Ordered to Stand Trial as Accessory to Murder in Gang Escape

A 22-year-old Poway man accused of aiding the escape of a friend who allegedly killed his pregnant girlfriend in Escondido must stand trial on a charge of accessory to murder and gang allegations, a judge ruled Friday.

Jesse Juan Lopez of Poway was arrested April 24 in the deaths two weeks earlier of 18-year-old Viridiana Rodriguez and her 4 1/2-month-old fetus, according to Escondido police Lt. Mike Loarie.

The main suspect in the case is Rodriguez’s boyfriend, 21-year-old construction worker Ruben Anthony Cepeda, who remains at large and faces two counts of murder. The unborn child was presumed to be his, authorities said.

Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe said Cepeda and Lopez—both gang members—were moving into an apartment in Escondido when the shooting occurred April 7.

Two women said they were talking in the apartment when they heard a gunshot from another room and found the pregnant victim with a bullet wound to
her stomach.

Cepeda said the shooting was accidental, and Lopez picked up a gun with his outer shirt and the two fled south, with Lopez helping to dispose of the weapon, Watanabe alleged.

Lopez was detained about an hour later while in line at the Otay Mesa border crossing. Witnesses said they saw a man run from Lopez's truck, jump a fence and run off into Mexico, Watanabe said.

Vista Superior Court Judge Richard Mills found that enough evidence was presented for Lopez to proceed to trial and set arraignment for May 25.

Lopez, still in custody on $200,000 bail, faces seven years in prison if convicted.

—City News Service