Anaheim Man Guilty of Hit-Man Role in 1986 Murder of Santa Ana Attorney

A Superior Court jury on Wednesday convicted an Anaheim man for his part in the 1986 murder of Santa Ana attorney Jesse M. Grimes.

George Robert Peterson, 29, the hit man in the Aug. 20, 1986, slaying of Grimes at his North Broadway apartment, is one of three people accused of the murder. The other two are Grimes’ former girlfriend and a man she was seeing.

Last year, Timothy S. Stotlar, 21, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for Grimes’ slaying.

Valerie L. Kalman, 21, who was romantically involved with both Stotlar and Grimes, is scheduled to be tried next month.

Testimony described an off-and-on relationship between Kalman and Grimes. Shortly before his murder, however, Grimes asked Kalman to leave. Kalman had also begun seeing Stotlar.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeoffrey L. Robinson told the jury that Peterson had boasted to his friends Stotlar and Kalman that he was a hit man. Peterson, who went to Grimes’ home with the two friends on the night of the murder, did not know the victim, Robinson said.

The prosecution contended that Stotlar and Kalman planned the murder, with revenge or robbery as a motive. Robinson also showed the jury a handgun rigged with a 14-inch silencer that Peterson carried the night Grimes was killed.

Kalman led Stotlar and Peterson into Grimes’ apartment, and the two men confronted the victim in his bedroom, the prosecution said. Peterson shot Grimes twice in the chest. Grimes then lunged at his attacker, and Stotlar put a .32-caliber handgun to Grimes’ head and fired.

Both weapons used in the shooting, plus a rifle, were found in the trunk of Peterson’s car when he was arrested on a traffic violation by a California Highway Patrol officer hours after Grimes’ death.

Although the jury deliberated more than two days before rendering the guilty verdict, jurors said Wednesday that they were convinced that Peterson had shot Grimes.

But one juror said it had taken the panel time to decide whether Peterson was guilty of malice aforethought when he and Stotlar walked into Grimes’ bedroom.

Peterson, who has been in custody since his arrest two years ago, showed no emotion when the verdict was read.

Superior Court Judge Jean Rheinheimer set sentencing for Sept. 23. Peterson faces a possible sentence of 25 years to life.