| For Immediate Release Case # 09NF2874
March 8, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON EXECUTION-STYLE SHOOTING-MURDER OF FRIEND USING A SHOTGUN
SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 50 years to life in state prison for the execution-style shooting-murder of his friend using a shotgun. Peter Albert Baltazar, 37, Anaheim, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 1, 2012, of one felony count of first degree murder. The sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death was found true.
At approximately 10:40 p.m. on March 2, 2009, Baltazar rode in the backseat of a van driven by victim James Arrecis. When Arrecis parked the van, Baltazar armed himself with a shotgun and followed the victim out of the vehicle. Baltazar fired one round from the shotgun and shot Arrecis in the face at point-blank range. Arrecis died at the scene as a result of the gunshot wound.
Baltazar fled the scene by driving the van back to his home in Anaheim. He then changed his clothes and hid out at various homes throughout the night to avoid being caught by police.
Brea Police Department (BPD), who investigated this case, identified Baltazar as a person of interest in the murder after finding his name on a phone list that was in the victim’s possession at the time of his death.
On Oct. 7, 2009, BPD arrested Baltazar at Pelican Bay State Prison, where he was serving time in custody as a result of a parole violation for a 2003 robbery.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.
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