A guilty plea was given in the first day of trial by 33-year-old Rene Pinon of Stephenville in the murder of Eddie Lopez.

Pinon was arrested and is accused of fatally shooting local business owner Eddie Lopez at Early Donuts on the morning of Monday, March 12 after the two exchanged words in the parking lot.

Pinon turned himself in at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center midmorning that same day.  He is currently held in the Brown County Jail on a murder charge in lieu of $500,000 bond and an additional $10,000 for tampering with a government record.

In late April Pinon was denied a reduction of his bond amount because he was considered a flight risk.

The punishment phase of the trial will continue in the 35th District Court on Tuesday.