People v. Lopez CA2/6

Facts Lopez immigrated with her parents to the United States from El Salvador. Her parents made her leave the family home after she became involved with Mara Salvatrucha or M.S. 13, a criminal street gang with ties to El Salvador. After leaving her parents’ home, Lopez lived in Pacoima with several other Salvadorans, including appellant Orellana and J.S., a juvenile. Lopez had a job at a fast-food restaurant and was also a sex worker who solicited customers on Instagram. After exchanging Instagram and text messages with him, Lopez arranged to meet 20-year-old Bryan Cojon at a gas station for paid sex. Lopez, Orellana and J.S. planned to rob Cojon instead. Cojon borrowed his uncle’s minivan and met Lopez at the gas station. Surveillance video shows Lopez getting into the van. The van left the gas station and parked around the corner. Surveillance video shows Orellana and J.S. arrive and approach the area where the van was parked. Two days later, Cojon’s body was found in a ravine off La Tuna Canyon Road, in an area known for illegal dumping. The minivan was found that same

2 day, abandoned just over one mile from the house where Lopez, Orellana and J.S. were living. Searching the…