On June 30, 2010, 45-year-old Johnnie Bennett of Terra Bella and 25-year-old Richard Peters of Porterville were sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for first-degree murder in the 2008 beating death of family friend, 41-year-old Richard Hopper.

Richard Peters was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury on March 29, 2010. Johnnie Bennett was convicted of first-degree murder by a different jury on May 21, 2010. A third co-defendant, 21-year-old Charles Peters, entered a no contest plea to another charge on April 14, 2010.

On October 31, 2008 in the City of Terra Bella, the defendants, picked up the victim Richard Hopper. The victim knew the defendants and got into the car with them because he needed a ride. Instead of taking him to cash his check, the defendants drove him out into a desolate orchard where they beat, kicked, and stomped Mr. Hopper in the upper torso and head. They left him there to die, choking on his own blood. The cause of death was blunt force trauma causing asphyxiation of blood and vomit. The defendants went back and bragged about the murder to two family friends.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Mikki Verissimo. The case was initially investigated by Tulare County Sheriff’s Detective, now Sergeant, Duane Cornett and Sergeant Jodi Cox. It was further investigated by the DA Investigator Domingo Flores. The Honorable Judge James Hollman presided over both the trials and judgment pronouncements.

Contact Person: Janet Wise, Supervising District Attorney (559) 733-6411