Man Pleads Not Guilty in Stabbing Death

FAYETTEVILLE — A Springdale man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a capital murder charge related to a February stabbing death.

Juan Pablo Perez-Lopez, 27, told police during questioning he stabbed Jesus Cecilio Villalobos about 20 times on Feb. 13. Villalobos was known as Cecilio.

Perez-Lopez was formally arraigned Wednesday morning before a magistrate judge in Washington County Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to capital murder.

Motorists called Springdale police about two men fighting on Huntsville Avenue, one of them had a knife and was riding away on a bicycle. Police found Perez-Lopez on a bicycle with a knife and bloody hands, then found Villalobos, 48, in a parking lot with multiple stab wounds to his chest and his throat cut, according to a search warrant affidavit filed Thursday.

Perez-Lopez agreed to waive his Miranda rights and talked to detectives after his arrest, according to the report.

Legal Lingo

Capital Murder

The most serious category of felony. It is punishable by death. Typically, it involves special circumstances, such as killing a police officer while on duty or committing a murder while committing another serious felony.

Source: uslegal.com

Perez-Lopez first told police he had taken a knife away from Villalobos and stabbed him in self-defense. Perez-Lopez told police Villalobos was working on his car and “ripped him off.”

As the interview continued, Perez-Lopez told police he took his car to be repaired Feb. 9. at, Latino Tires, in Springdale.

He returned the following Monday and Tuesday and was told both times more parts had to be ordered, according to the report.

Perez-Lopez said he went to Walmart, stole a knife and returned to Latino Tires on Feb. 13 with the intention of stabbing Villalobos. Perez-Lopez said he thought Villalobos was making fun of and taking advantage of him.

Before going into the business, Perez-Lopez said he pulled the knife out of his backpack and put it in the pocket of his jacket.

While in the office of Latino Tires, Perez-Lopez said he stabbed Villalobos in the chest, near the heart, according to the report. Villalobos got out of the chair he was sitting in and went outside, Perez-Lopez followed and stabbed the man two or three more times “to make him stop hurting.”

Perez-Lopez went on to tell police Villalobos went across the street, where Perez-Lopez followed on his bicycle.

“Perez-Lopez stated that he stabbed Villalobos two more times in the back and Villalobos fell to the ground where he stabbed him ten more times,” according to the report. “He stated that he then put Villalobos’ hat over his face to keep others from seeing him and stabbed him five more times, stabbing him in the throat and chest to make sure he was dead.”

Perez-Lopez entered the not guilty plea and was given a May 22 trial date. That trial date will likely change as the case proceeds to allow the sides adequate time to prepare for trial.

Perez-Lopez is in the Washington County jail without bond.

Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Prosecutors haven’t determined if they will seek the death penalty.

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