Clovis man pleads to aggravated burglary, other counts

CLOVIS — A Clovis man on Thursday admitted his role in a brutal attack last September at the former Dirty Curry Creations, and pleaded to associated charges.

Angelo Lopez, 19, was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center following a plea agreement hearing in district court.

Under the agreement, Lopez pleaded to counts of aggravated burglary, attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery and agreed to name two other participants in the attack.

Lopez was sentenced to 15 years and required to pay restitution to Savannah Sena, owner of the former business.

He will serve three years in the Department of Corrections, with 12 years suspended in favor of a five-year probation term following his release.

“We feel he got a more than fair deal considering what he did,” said Max Sena, Savannah's father. “Fortunately, he was man enough to admit what he did.”

Savannah Sena, who had started the smoke shop and art gallery just two months before, told The News three armed men posed as police when they broke into the business, pistol whipped her and hit her repeatedly with a shotgun barrel while asking where she kept money.

The three left without any money, but left Savannah Sena covered in her own blood following the attack. She needed staples and stitches, and Max Sena said PTSD and nightmares have followed for both Savannah and her girlfriend, who was hidden during the assault.

Charges were dismissed for attempt to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, impersonating a peace officer and criminal damage.

“I felt like the state and the judge and myself, we all worked hard and negotiated a fair resolution,” said Robert Jason Bowles, Lopez' counsel. “This has obviously been a difficult case for everybody. He is going to serve some time and have probation requirements, and I hope everyone involved can recover over time.”