A Lake Havasu man accused of second-degree murder will have his bail reduced following an order Thursday by Mojave Senior Judge Billy Sipe.
Angel F. Caldera, 22, remains in Mojave County Jail on $250,000 bail as of this weekend. By Thursday, his bond was set at $1 million. The bail reduction comes from Havasu-based attorney Michael Frame, who said Caldera had a minimal criminal record until this year and was prepared to wear a GPS-tracking ankle monitor if released from custody. It was done following an allegation last week.
The Mojave County prosecutor’s office opposed Frame’s bail reduction request in a court response Wednesday.
Mohave County Deputy Attorney Leah Nelson said this week, “Defendant has no criminal record as an adult, but he did have a juvenile drug conviction in 2017.”
According to Nelson, a search warrant for Nelson’s home revealed several syringes, a vial containing an unknown liquid, and blue pills (which had previously been identified as fentanyl in previous Lake Havasu police investigations). (mostly)), foil with burnt residue, and blue pills found inside a Caldera car.
Nelson said that if Caldera’s or his roommate’s potential drug use wasn’t enough, the charges against Caldera would themselves be grounds for denying a reduction in bail.
“This crime literally ended in human death due to the use of dangerous equipment,” Nelson said. “The defendant is a danger to the community.”
The incident began on the morning of May 17, when Caldera reported to an emergency dispatcher that he had shot an intruder in his home. The “intruder” eventually turned out to be 19-year-old Arnel Bell, who had lived at the location for about two weeks before the incident.
First responders tried to administer first aid to the victim, but Bell was later pronounced dead.
Police say Bell recently moved into the house with Caldera and two other roommates. However, when Bell was unable to pay half his rent, Bell reportedly agreed to move him out.
Despite Caldera’s statement to dispatchers, police said Caldera let Bell into the residence on May 17 to retrieve his belongings. Prosecutors said Caldera gave the victim about five minutes and then asked him to leave again. The two allegedly got into an altercation, during which Caldera told police that Bell tried to punch him. Caldera told police Bell tried to put a headlock on him, but Caldera fled.
Caldera then reportedly pulled a .45 caliber handgun from his waistband. Caldera fired 13 shots from his gun, hitting Bell multiple times, according to the police report. Police said four of the shots were believed to have been fired into Bell’s back.
Investigators said Bell was unarmed at the time of the shooting and made no effort to disarm the caldera. Caldera is said to have given no warning before firing.
Caldera reportedly told investigators he was about five inches taller than Caldera himself and was concerned about his safety because of his size.
He will next appear in the Mojave High Court, where he will appear at a pretrial conference on June 26.
