Pomona

The last of four defendants in a West Covina murder-for-hire case has been found guilty in Pomona Superior Court. Donald Eugene Hoyt, 22, was convicted last week of first-degree murder in connection with the shotgun slaying of his stepfather, Celso Alvarez, 55, outside the family home in August, 1984. Hoyt’s mother, Sharon Lavonne Alvarez, 39, was found guilty two weeks ago of first-degree murder for hiring her son to kill Alvarez.

The jury also found Hoyt guilty of lying in wait for his stepfather, an allegation known as a “special circumstance,” but not guilty of a second special-circumstance allegation, that of committing the crime for financial gain. Deputy Dist. Atty. John Hayes said only one such circumstance is required by law before a life sentence without the possibility of parole can be imposed. Hoyt and Alvarez are scheduled for sentencing Oct. 11 before Judge Glenn Pfau, who presided over both trials.

Charles Monroe Peterson Jr., 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in July and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for assisting in planning the murder and driving Hoyt’s getaway car. Beatrice Jones, 17, was sentenced to probation in July for aiding and abetting the murder by providing police with a false alibi for Hoyt, Judge Peter Smith said. Jones is in her father’s custody, court personnel said.