Convicted killer gets 59 years to life

Josh Goldstein

PASADENA -- Convicted killer Stephen Kopy Jr., 65, received what

probably will be a life sentence Monday for the shooting death of a La

Crescenta man.

Stephen Kopy Jr., of North Hills, was ordered by Pasadena Superior

Court Judge Teri Schwartz, who presided over the trial, to serve 59 years

to life in state prison.

Kopy was found guilty Feb. 2 of first-degree murder for the shooting

death of Andrew Camarata on June 12, 2000, at Aramark Uniform Services in

Burbank, where Kopy’s wife, Martha, worked as a secretary.

“The sentence of the judge speaks volumes of how she felt about the

case,” said Jeff Jonas, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted Kopy.

Kopy’s sentence included 25 years for Camarata’s murder, another 25

years for use of the firearm that killed Camarata, and additional time

due to extra charges for the assault of another Aramark employee.

Defense attorney Vincent Oliver appealed the conviction and requested

a new trial, Jonas said. That request was denied.

Kopy believed his wife and Camarata, 63, were having an affair. On the

day of Camarata’s murder, Kopy blamed his wife’s employer for his own

marital problems.

The victim’s mother, Rose Camarata Gaffney, 85, read a statement of

reflection about her son Andrew prior to the sentencing.