A JOHNSON CITY MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS NEPHEW HAS HAD THE CHARGES DROPPED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE CRIMINAL COURT. JOHNNY LOPEZ JR. WAS INDICTED ON SECOND-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES LAST YEAR IN THE DEATH OF CHARLIE ROMERO. ROMERO’S DEATH HAS NOW BEEN LISTED AS A SUICIDE. PROSECUTORS SAID THEIR TWO WITNESSES CHANGED THEIR STATEMENTS. HOWEVER, LOPEZ DID PLEAD GUILTY YESTERDAY TO TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. HE ADMITTED TO THROWING THE GUN THAT ROMERO USED TO KILL HIMSELF IN THE LAKE. HE’S EXPECTED TO BE SENTENCED NEXT MONTH.