Antonio F. Ropiza pleaded not guilty to a count of second-degree murder

Antonio F. Ropiza, 30, of Riverhead, pleaded not guilty to a count of second-degree murder Monday in Riverhead Town Justice Court, court officials said.Town Justice Allen Smith ordered Ropiza held in county jail without bail.According to police, Beatrice Shaw's mother discovered her daughter's dead body inside her apartment around 3:15 p.m. Friday. Police said Ropiza stabbed Shaw the night before after he fought with Shaw over some crack cocaine he'd obtained from her. Defense lawyer James Saladino of Riverhead said his client had suffered an unspecified brain injury 10 years ago and had recently been taking medication."He told police he stopped taking his medication a month ago," Saladino said. "I don't know if he completely understands what is going on."Deputy Insp. Robert Oswald, commanding officer of the Suffolk police major crimes bureau, said the defendant and victim had a "casual relationship between them based on their mutual use of crack cocaine.""He was dissatisfied with the quality or quantity of crack cocaine he had gotten from her," Oswald said.Ropiza, of 12 Fairview Dr., is due back in court on Oct. 30.

Antonio F. Ropiza pleaded not guilty to a count of second-degree murder

Antonio F. Ropiza, 30, of Riverhead, pleaded not guilty to a count of second-degree murder Monday in Riverhead Town Justice Court, court off...

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