State v. Lopez

Summary

The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed Brent Lopez's convictions and consecutive sentences. It held that the evidence did not support a legally cognizable claim of self-defense or defense of others because nothing the approaching social workers did or said constituted an imminent threat warranting deadly force, and it found no sentencing abuse of discretion. Of Lopez's ineffective-assistance claims, two were inadequately pleaded, one was conclusively refuted by the record, and one could not be resolved on direct appeal. No separate opinions were filed.