76-Year-Old Attorney Sentenced to Life for Role in Murdering Art Dealer and Burying Body on California Mountainside

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76-Year-Old Attorney Sentenced to Life for Role in Murdering Art Dealer and Burying Body on California Mountainside

Riverside, CA — A 76-year-old attorney has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the 2008 murder of art dealer Clifford Lambert. David Replogle, a former attorney from Riverside, was convicted of eight felonies, including first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, burglary, grand theft, identity theft, and forgery.

The sentencing, which took place on Friday, was the culmination of a nearly two-year-long legal battle.

The Murder of Clifford Lambert

Replogle played a pivotal role in the brutal killing of 74-year-old art dealer and Palm Springs socialite Clifford Lambert. On December 5, 2008, Replogle and five other co-conspirators plotted to murder Lambert.

They stabbed him to death at his home before transporting his body to a remote mountainside in Los Angeles, where they buried it. Authorities later found Lambert’s remains, including a jawbone and skull, which were identified as his.

Prosecutors argued that Replogle used his legal expertise to forge power of attorney documents, which enabled the group to steal over $185,000 from Lambert’s bank accounts and access his property and art collection.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Although Replogle was initially convicted in 2010, the verdict was overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct, which stemmed from a judge’s alleged comment about not wanting to touch an envelope because one of the co-defendants was HIV positive.

After several motions for a new trial were denied, Replogle was once again found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During an interview earlier this year with Bay Area Reporter, Replogle maintained his innocence, claiming that his trial was akin to a miscarriage of justice. He controversially likened the situation to “Putin’s Russia,” citing his inability to call witnesses he believed could have helped his case.

Co-Defendants and Notoriety

Replogle’s co-defendants also faced serious charges for their involvement in the murder. Kaushal Niroula, Daniel Garcia, Miguel Bustamante, Craig McCarthy, and Russell Manning were all convicted. Notably, Niroula had posed as an exiled prince from Nepal, adding an element of intrigue to the case.

Manning and Niroula both died after their convictions, while Garcia and Bustamante were each sentenced to life in prison. McCarthy, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, is expected to be eligible for parole next year after providing testimony against the other defendants.

The case gained attention due to the high-profile nature of the crime, involving a former attorney and a network of individuals with unusual and elaborate personal histories.

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