4th Suspect Charged in Slaying of Pasadena Man

The fourth defendant to be charged in the Jan. 15 shooting death of a 21-year-old man in Pasadena made his initial court appearance today, but his arraignment was postponed for a week.

John Michael Piepoli II, 19, is charged with one count each of murder, second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime in the slaying of Zane Goldstein.

Also charged with the same counts are Peter Parra, 35, Kevin Jessie Cabrera, 25, of North Hollywood, and Raymond Frank Conchas, 23.

The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a robbery, which makes the defendants eligible for the death penalty if convicted. The District Attorney's Office will decide in the months ahead whether to pursue capital punishment.

All four men are being held without bail while awaiting arraignment Feb. 7.

The criminal complaint alleges that Conchas told Piepoli and another person that he wanted to rob Goldstein and ordered them to set up a drug deal, and that Conchas then sent a text message to the victim to arrange a meeting place for the drug deal.

Prosecutors allege that Cabrera met the victim and lured him into an alleyway off Holliston Street and that Parra and Conchas pursued him to the area of Chester and Maple streets, where Parra allegedly shot Goldstein once in the head.

Conchas' sister, Ruby Yvette Conchas, 20, is charged with being an accessory after the fact. She pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a hearing Feb. 7 to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.

Criminal charges against a teenage boy who was also arrested are under review by the District Attorney's Office, according to Pasadena police.