Judge Sentences Trio to Life in Prison With No Parole for Pasadena Killing

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sentenced a Pasadena man and two other to life in prison with no possibility of parole Wednesday for the 2013 shooting death of 21-year-old Zane Goldtein at Maple Avenue and Chester Street in Pasadena in Pasadena during a drug deal that went bad.

Judge Drew E. Edwards also ordered Peter Parra, 38, of Pasadena, Kevin Jessie Cabrera, 27, of North Hollywood, and Raymond Frank Conchas, 26, to serve an additional 25 years to life in state prison.

City News Service said that when told in court by the victim’s brother, Zachary, that the sentencing hearing was his last chance to say he was sorry, Conchas told the family, “I apologize from the bottom of my heart … That day wasn’t supposed to be like that.”

In February, each of the three men guilty were found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy to a commit a crime for the Jan. 15, 2013, killing.

The jury also found true the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed during a robbery and allegations that a shotgun was used and the crime was for the benefit of a gang.

Goldstein and his brother had arranged to to meet one of the suspects to sell a small amount of marijuana.  the defendants attempted to rob him and shot him in the head with a shotgun as he tried to escape near Maple Street and Chester Avenue, the prosecutor said.

The shooting occurred as Goldstein and his brother were driving from an apartment complex.

A fourth defendant, John Michael Piepoli, 21, of Pasadena was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Nov. 12, 2014 after also being convicted of Goldstein’s murder.

Ward Lacey IV, 21, of Pasadena also is alleged to have been involved in the killing. He is charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime in case GA088733.

He is scheduled to appear on May 27 for a pretrial hearing in Department 101 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

The case was investigated by the Pasadena Police Department.