Man Pleads Guilty in Homeless Stomping Death

Then-18-year-old Lawrence Lobdell robbed homeless man for beer, pocket change, before killing him

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By Brendan Joel Kelley
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Story Created: Mar 23, 2012 at 11:19 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 23, 2012 at 11:21 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - On Friday, March 23, Lawrence Lobdell pled guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the death of 37-year-old James Lockery in Centennial Park in July 2009.

Lobdell and Marc Ewing, both 18 at the time of the murder, robbed Lockery for beer and pocket change and later returned to kill him; Ewing admitted to jumping off the bleachers at the park and stomping Lockery over and over. Lockery's body was found by police near the bleachers on July 12, 2009. In November 2010, Ewing was sentenced to 70 years in prison with 20 years suspended.

Due to his plea agreement, Lobdell won't serve more than 40 years in prison for his role in the killing; the sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder allow for 10 to 99 years in prison. Lobdell is scheduled to be sentenced in Anchorage Superior Court on June 1.

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Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 23 at 12:10 PM

Death penalty, there is no hope in my mind that killing anyone in so cruela fashion does not deserve mercy!

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1sayeroftruth said on Friday, Mar 23 at 1:02 PM

the manner in which they killed this person was enough to warrent the death penalty in my mind and remember this was over pocket change and beer. They also came back to finish the job they may have been young but that is no excuse for what they did.

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BobD said on Friday, Mar 23 at 1:15 PM

Since they returned to " finish him off " , I don't understand why they weren't charged with pre-meditated 1st degree murder.. Maybe I'm just ignorant.

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disgusted. said on Saturday, Mar 24 at 11:29 AM

Our justice system is so flawed. We should NEVER offer plea bargains to this 'class' of criminal. All he gets now is free pass on the working class, he'll go to prison long enough to learn more about beating the system, reoffend and some other poor life will be lost. they dont offer pleas to anyone who has drugs and a firearm... automatic 10 years for the firearm alone.... but to just randomly kill someone you get a plea bargain??? Did the prosecution really have such doubts in his ability to get a MURDER 1 verdict that he had to negotiate with such a scum bag?

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