Court Upheld Murder Conviction for Richard Chico Nevarez
A California appellate court panel rejected the appeal of a man convicted in a 2016 double murder.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Violence
A state appeals court has affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Richard Chico Nevarez. Nevarez is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a 2016 double shooting in Lakeview Terrace.
Why it matters
The ruling resolves a legal challenge questioning whether the original trial judge provided proper jury instructions regarding provocation. The appellate court concluded that evidence, including eyewitness testimony, sufficiently supported the jury verdict.
A 22-page appellate court ruling affirmed the conviction of 45-year-old Richard Chico Nevarez, who is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without parole for the murders of 68-year-old Moises Farias and 47-year-old Edgar Canaan.
The players
Richard Chico Nevarez
He is a 45-year-old man convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
Moises Farias
He was a 68-year-old victim of the 2016 shooting.
Edgar Canaan
He was a 47-year-old victim of the 2016 shooting.
LAPD
The Los Angeles Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency that investigated the crime and arrested the suspect.
The details
The shooting occurred in Lakeview Terrace following an argument over tire-screeching noises. The court panel found that eyewitness testimony presented at trial was adequate to prove premeditation and deliberation by the defendant.
Timeline
Nevarez received a first-degree burglary conviction in 2008.
The shooting of three men in Lakeview Terrace occurred on August 28, 2016.
The LAPD arrested Nevarez in March 2019.
Nevarez was convicted of first-degree murder in August 2023.
Nevarez was sentenced to life in prison in August 2024.
Legal Context
The ruling follows established California penal code standards for proving first-degree murder and premeditation. This case reinforces existing legal precedents regarding how trial judges must instruct juries on provocation and the specific degrees of homicide.
The resolution of this case closes a multi-year legal process involving a violent incident that occurred in the Lakeview Terrace community. The ruling provides finality for the legal proceedings stemming from the 2016 shooting.
The takeaway
Appellate courts prioritize the consistency of jury instructions and the sufficiency of evidence when reviewing lower court murder convictions. Understanding these legal standards helps the public grasp how complex criminal cases are finalized through the judiciary.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings in the city, visit Los Angeles Violence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My News LA.
