Boise man guilty of murder gets 50 years in prison

The man found guilty of murdering a fellow Boise resident at a party has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term.

An Ada County jury found Jed Earls, 34, guilty of second-degree murder in May for the killing of 22-year-old James “Matt” Cuellar, with a conviction for use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Prosecutors said Earls “bullied” and antagonized Cuellar repeatedly throughout the night of the killing, mocking the appearance and speech impediment of Cuellar, who was born with a rare genetic disorder called Pierre Robin syndrome.

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Fourth District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace sentenced Earls on Monday to 50 years in prison, with a fixed term of 20 years to be served before he would be eligible for parole.

Boise police arrested Earls after responding to a call at 4:10 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2022, in the 2100 block of South Owyhee Street. Cuellar and several friends went to Earls’ house after a birthday party, though most of them, including Cuellar, had not met Earls before, prosecutors said during the 12-day trial.

Those at the party testified in court that Earls repeatedly hit Cuellar on the buttocks and shoulder in an attempt to provoke him. Earls, who was described as heavily intoxicated, was angry at people who drank his alcohol, and at one point Cuellar stood up to him after Earls made uncomfortable comments to the only woman in the house, according to testimony.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the tension between the two increased as the night progressed, until they were alone together when people left to pick up food.

Prosecutors and police said they believe the two men got into an argument over a case of beer. Police found a torn case of beer on the ground, with all the cans unopened, according to photos of the evidence. Prosecutors speculated that Cuellar was trying to steal the beer. Earls claimed he shot Cuellar in self-defense.

According to the prosecution, Earls was charged with second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder because the crime was committed on impulse and not premeditated.

“On behalf of my office, I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Cuellar’s family and friends for their loss,” Ada County District Attorney Jan Bennetts said in a news release. “I am proud of my trial team’s tireless work on this case and would like to thank the Boise Police Department for their thorough investigation. I would also like to thank the jury for their time and focused attention during the trial.”