Clallam Bay man pleads guilty to first-degree murder

Sentencing next month to be between 35 and 43 years

PORT ANGELES — A Clallam Bay man arrested in June after a woman was found dead in a travel trailer has pleaded guilty in Clallam County Superior Court to first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault and possession of a stolen firearm.

Cipriano Ojeda-Ibarra, 56, of Clallam Bay is set to be sentenced at 9 a.m. on April 30. Including three sentence enhancements for using a firearm and one for domestic violence, he faces a sentencing range of 35 years and three months to 43 years and four months. He pleaded guilty on Tuesday.

Ojeda-Ibarra was set to go to trial on May 6. He is being held without bail in the Clallam County jail based upon RCW 10.64.025, which allows detaining a defendant found guilty of a felony and awaiting sentencing “unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is not likely to flee or to pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released.”

On June 28, Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a travel trailer in Clallam Bay, where they located a deceased 39-year-old woman, later identified as Charlotte Louesa Lopez. Indications were that she had died of a gunshot wound, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Ojeda-Ibarra later was identified on the property, then arrested and booked into Clallam County jail for investigation of second-degree murder-domestic violence, according to an update from the sheriff’s office.

“The victim and suspect are related, which is why it reads domestic violence,” then-Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Cameron said last June.

According to court records, Ojeda-Ibarra also assaulted a man and a woman with a firearm.

Under state law, if a defendant is found to have been armed with a firearm during the crime, an additional 60 months is added for the first offense and 120 months for a second offense.

Ojeda-Ibarra also possessed a .357 revolver he knew had been stolen.

________

Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.

More in Crime

John Barcellos, 61, left, next to his defense attorney John Hayden, was sentenced to 77 months in prison on Nov. 18 in Clallam County Superior Court for threatening to kill four children and attempting to elude law enforcement more than two years ago in a Sequim church parking lot. (Clallam County)
Sequim man gets 6 1/2 years in prison

Judge denies mental health sentence alternative

Man pleads guilty to assaulting state trooper

A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and… Continue reading

Man investigated for shooting from bridge held on $350K bail

A Port Angeles man who allegedly fired a weapon… Continue reading

Man sentenced after fourth-degree assault conviction

A 61-year-old man was convicted of fourth-degree assault following… Continue reading

Man to serve two years for courthouse burglary

A 39-year-old man was convicted of multiple crimes and… Continue reading

Deputies: Barricaded man dies by suicide

Negotiators work for nearly two hours for peaceful resolution

Police: Person of interest in custody following reports of shooting

School district says situation contained, operations will continue

Suspects in murder cases get hearings

Update on four defendants headed to trial

Port Angeles man is dead following shooting

Police: Officers attempted non-lethal force

Port Townsend woman found guilty of first-degree assault

Young attacked husband with blunt end of hatchet, according to court documents

Marysville man sentenced to 13 months for sex crimes

A 64-year-old Marysville man has been sentenced to 13… Continue reading

Police: Wanted man shot in pursuit

State agency to conduct independent investigation