Clallam County Superior Court Judge Simon Barnhart sentenced Cipriano Ojeda-Ibarra of Clallam Bay to 41 years in prison for premeditated murder in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, and possession of a stolen firearm. The sentence followed a plea from Ojeda-Ibarra.
On June 28, 2023, Charlotte Lopez was in her trailer on the property of her mother and Ojeda Ibarra, Lopez’s stepfather since she was a child. Lopez was in the trailer with two of her friends, Cindy Smith and Walter Mantor. Ojeda-Ibarra went to the trailer, knocked on the door, and told Smith and Mantor to leave.
When Lopez tried to follow Smith and Mantor, Ojeda-Ibarra grabbed her and pointed a stolen .357 revolver in her face. Smith and Mantor got into their car and Smith could hear Lopez pleading with Ojeda-Ibarra to let her leave.
Smith then heard a gunshot and saw Lopez’s body crumple to the ground. Ojeda Ibarra then approached Smith and Mantor, pointed the gun at them and asked them if they wanted “the same.” Smith and Mantor quickly drove away, and Smith called 9-1-1.
Members of numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department, Lower Elwha Police Department, La Push Police Department, and Washington State Patrol, investigated. PAPD Detective Ron Cameron found the revolver Ojeda-Ibarra used to shootLopez tucked between folded laundry inside Ojeda-Ibarra’s bedroom.
“This is a crime that shocks the conscience,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Johnson, who, along with Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michele Devlin, recommended a 43 1/3-year sentence. Lopez suffered “a brutal and violent death,” and “did not deserve her fate,” said Johnson.
Judge Barnhart sentenced Ojeda-Ibarra to base sentences of 360 months for murder in the first degree, 29 months for each count of assault in the second degree, and 20 months for possession of a stolen firearm. Additionally, Judge Barnhart imposed 60 months for Ojeda Ibarra being armed with a firearm during the murder and 36 months for being armed with a firearm during his assaults of Smith and Mantor. The firearm enhancements will run consecutively to each other and to the base sentences, which will run concurrently.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office thanks the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, the Port Angeles Police Department, the Sequim Police Department, the Lower Elwha Police Department, the La Push Police Department, and the Washington State Patrol for their efforts in this case.
