Dallas DA Secures Six-Decade Sentence in Darrin Lopez Murder Case

Office of Dallas DA John Creuzot Secures Six-Decade Sentence in Darrin Lopez Murder Case 

August 2, 2023

Darrin Ruben Lopez has been convicted and sentenced to 62 years in prison for the October 2020 murder of James Faith of Dallas.

“We are pleased and thankful to the jury for this outcome. James Faith was a truly innocent victim, and we are thankful to provide a semblance of justice for his friends, family, and loved ones,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

Darrin Lopez/Courtesy: Dallas County Sherriff's Office

On the morning of October 9, 2020, Mr. Lopez fatally shot 49-year-old James “Jamie” Faith as he and his wife Jennifer walked their dog in their North Oak Cliff neighborhood.  Detectives traced a black Nissan Titan spotted at the scene to Mr. Lopez’s Tennessee home.

An investigation revealed Mr. Lopez had engaged in a seven-month-long emotional affair with the victim’s wife, Jennifer Faith, whom he had previously dated in high school.  Mr. Lopez claimed Jennifer Faith had deceived him into believing her husband, James Faith, was abusing her, forcing Mr. Lopez to defend her.  However, evidence showed Mr. Lopez took no logical steps to confirm the abuse or otherwise secure Jennifer Faith’s safety.  At the end of the investigation, it became clear that Darrin Lopez and Jennifer Faith were both guilty of planning and executing the murder of James Faith.

Prosecutors Brandi Mitchell and Caitlin Paver likewise want to specifically thank the jurors for their time and their thoughtful consideration of all the evidence before them.

In February 2022, Jennifer Faith pleaded guilty to a federal murder-for-hire charge and was sentenced to life in prison.

Thank you to the entire trial team, including ADAs Brandi Mitchell, Caitlin Paver, and Adam Seiffert; DA Investigator Richard Forness; DPD Detectives Chris Walton and Eric Barnes, and the entire DPD Homicide team; and the federal agencies involved who, as a team, were instrumental in securing this just verdict.