4 Men Still Charged With Murder in Officer’s Death

A judge on Monday refused to dismiss murder charges against four men on trial for the shooting death of a Fullerton undercover detective during a drug sting operation.

However, in what a Fullerton Police official described as a “disappointing” ruling, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge J. Kimball Walker dropped some of the drug charges against three of the defendants, as well as charges that they had been lying in wait, a special circumstance allegation that can result in the death penalty.

The judge did let stand a second special circumstance allegation against three of the defendants of murder during a robbery, which means they still are eligible for a death sentence.

“We don’t understand the reasoning behind (Walker’s decision) to drop the charges he did,” Fullerton Police Capt. Lee R. DeVore said Monday. “We’re encouraged, at least, that some of the charges still stand.”

On trial for the June 21, 1990, murder of Detective Tommy De La Rosa are Raul Meza, Jose Yuriar, Jesus Araclio, and Fredrico Marriott, all of Los Angeles County. Marriott, who was not charged with any special circumstance allegations, faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.

Prosecutors contend that the four men planned to kill De La Rosa and rob him of the cocaine they thought he was going to sell to them for $4 million. They also alleged that Meza, Yuriar and Araclio were the triggermen in the shooting outside a Downey home.

Marriott was not at the scene, his attorney said.

Attorneys for the defendants last week asked Walker to dismiss the murder charges, saying there was not enough evidence against their clients.

On Monday, Walker dropped charges of conspiracy to purchase cocaine and attempt to purchase cocaine against all but Marriott. He also dismissed a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery against Araclio.