A Jefferson County jury deliberated two hours on June 7th before finding Lawrence Arellano, DOB: 03-21-68, guilty of the first degree murder of James Miller in January, 2017.
On January 4, 2017 codefendant Charles Joseph Martinez, DOB/01-19-84, met Miller at a convenience store in the 1100 block of S. Sheridan, in Lakewood. Unbeknownst to Miller, Martinez brought Arellano with him. Martinez was aware that Miller owed a drug debt to Arellano. In the parking lot of the convenience store, Arellano hid in the darkness until Miller came out to meet Martinez and then he stabbed him. Miller died from his injuries.
Martinez pled guilty to Second Degree Murder (F2) and on February 21, 2018 he was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Arellano has seven prior felony convictions. He will be sentenced on June 13, at 8:00 a.m. He will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
