The second-degree murder conviction of a Pima County man who shot and killed an unarmed homeless man during an attempted citizen’s arrest outside a Tucson area restaurant in 2018 has been affirmed by the Arizona Court of Appeals.
The “evidence is sufficient” to support a Pima County jury’s verdict that James Daniel Candelaria committed second-degree murder on Nov. 29, 2018 when he shot Prentice Reid near Oracle and River roads, according to the appellate decision authored by Judge Philip Espinosa.
The 16-year prison sentence without early release imposed by the trial judge was also affirmed, the decision stated.
Court records show Candelaria, then 37, fatally shot Reid during a claimed citizen’s arrest nearly an hour after the two men were involved in a verbal altercation at a Circle K located along the same intersection. Candelaria alleged the incident started when Reid, 29, placed a lit cigarette near a gas pump nozzle.
After words were exchanged, Candelaria is accused of pursuing Reid around the neighborhood. He later saw Reid outside a nearby restaurant, where he pointed a gun at Reid in what he told jurors was intended to be a citizen’s arrest.
At trial, Candelaria testified he intentionally pulled the trigger, although he had not meant to harm Reid, who was struck once in the back. Candelaria also testified he then cut his own chest and face with a box cutter, which he placed near Reid’s body to support the fake self-defense story Candelaria told deputies with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Candelaria was charged with first-degree murder, but in February 2020 the jury returned a guilty verdict for the lesser-included charge of second-degree. Various delays led to Candelaria’s sentence not being imposed until May 2021.
Afterward, Candelaria’s court-appointed appellate attorney filed an Anders brief with the court of appeals, advising the court he did not find any “arguably meritorious issue to raise on appeal.” A three-judge appellant panel then reviewed the record for any possible legal error which would have affected Candelaria’s right to a fair trial.
“Pursuant to our obligation under Anders, we have searched the record for fundamental, prejudicial error and have found none,” Espinosa wrote. “Accordingly, Candelaria’s conviction and sentence are affirmed.”
Candelaria remained in pretrial custody for nearly 900 days prior to sentencing. He must be given credit for that time, resulting in a release date in November 2034.
