California man sentenced in Waikoloa stabbing

A 67-year-old San Pedro, Calif., man who stabbed his then 64-year-old girlfriend several times with a steak knife while the couple was vacationing in South Kohala in 2022 has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Acting Kona Circuit Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya on Friday sentenced Richard Lopez for attempted manslaughter.

Lopez had pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder for slashing Irma Rossi — Lopez’s girlfriend of 17 years — numerous times to the face and neck during an altercation on Sept. 1, 2022.

The stabbing took place in a hotel room at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort.

Responding officers reported that Rossi received “numerous injuries” that were described as “life-threatening.” Lopez also had visible injuries from the altercation, police said.

Both were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital for treatment before Lopez made his initial court appearance.

Lopez’s Honolulu-based attorney, Michael Green, had worked out a plea arrangement with First Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye.

Under the agreement, the guilty plea to second-degree murder would be entered, but Green also would enter a motion for Lopez to be convicted instead of the lesser offense of attempted manslaughter on the grounds that Lopez was under extreme mental or emotional distress, or EMED, during the incident.

The court accepted the EMED defense for Lopez, who remained in custody for the duration of the criminal proceedings.

Tsuchiya ordered that Lopez, who will will receive credit for time served, must serve at least six years and eight months before becoming eligible for parole.

Attempted manslaughter is a Class A felony, and the 20-year prison term is the maximum penalty for the offense. If he had been convicted of the attempted second-degree murder, Lopez would’ve faced a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.