Arraignment for Man Charged With Double Murder Set for Dec. 6

The arraignment for a man charged with the murder of his wife and 5-year-old daughter has been continued to next month.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office announced that the arraignment for Johnny Lopez, 33, of Hemet was originally scheduled for today at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta but was continued to Dec. 6. At that time, he is scheduled to be arraigned on six felony counts.

Lopez is charged with the murders of Joanna Angel Barrientos, 36, and 5-year-old Mia Lopez, the step daughter of Joanna Lopez. They were found shot to death in their home on Gerard Street in Hemet on Nov. 9. Johnny Lopez is also charged with the attempted murder of a former girlfriend who was found stabbed in her home on Sunset Lane in Hemet about an hour before the other bodies were discovered.

The DA's Office has also filed a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders against Lopez. That makes him eligible for the death penalty. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty has not been made. At this point, Lopez faces a minimum of life in prison without the possibility of parole.