June 09, 2016
Mugshot/Cumberland County Jail
Steve Alicea, pictured here during his jailing for an earlier crime, was convicted of murder and a slew of other offenses by a Camden County jury.
A Camden County jury has convicted Steven Alicea, 23, of murder and weapons offenses in the shooting death of 38-year-old Lori Breiding.
Alicea, a Camden resident, and his codefendant, John Gonzalez, 21, also of Camden, both now have been convicted of fatally shooting Breiding during an attempted robbery nearly five years ago.
The slaying happened on the 2600 block of Cramer Street in Camden around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2011. The victim died on Oct. 1, 2011.
Alicea and Gonzalez were arrested shortly after Breiding’s shooting.
They had committed a second crime, a home invasion robbery and sexual assault, near the scene of the homicide. The jury also convicted Alicea of aggravated sexual assault, burglary, armed robbery and weapons offenses during the home invasion.
Alicea also was convicted of witness tampering charges relating to both the home invasion and the murder.
In January, a jury had found Gonzalez guilty of felony murder and weapons offenses for Breiding's death. The jury convicted Gonzalez of aggravated sexual assault, burglary, armed robbery, and weapons offenses related to the home-invasion.
Gonzalez received a combined sentence of 41 years in prison in April. He must serve approximately 32 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
Alicea is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
During Alicea's trial, Assistant Prosecutor Peter Gallagher presented evidence showing Alicea and Gonzalez were still wearing the same clothes during their second crime.
When arrested, both were armed with .22-caliber revolvers – Breiding was shot to death with a .22-caliber round. And Breiding’s purse was found at the residence where the home-invasion occurred.
Gallagher also presented evidence showing a letter written by Alicea was found in the jail by the Camden County Department of Corrections. The letter referenced both the homicide and the home invasion.
