Tourist who stabbed his girlfriend in the face and neck with steak knife at Hawaii resort is sentenced

HAWAI'I COUNTY, Hawaii (TCN) -- A 67-year-old California man will spend two decades behind bars for stabbing his 64-year-old girlfriend multiple times at a beach resort nearly three years ago.

The Hawai'i County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced March 19 that Richard Lopez received a sentence of 20 years in prison, and the court also ordered him to serve a mandatory minimum of six years and eight months.

The defendant previously pleaded guilty in December 2024 to second-degree attempted murder. Prosecutors said the court "accepted his submission that he was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the incident."

Lopez and his girlfriend of 17 years were visiting Hawai'i Island when he stabbed her at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort on Sept. 1, 2022. According to an initial release from the prosecuting attorney's office, the victim sustained stab and slash wounds to her face and neck. Lopez was originally indicted on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and abuse of a family or household member.

The defendant remained in custody during criminal proceedings in lieu of $1 million bail.

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