Tucson teen given 4 years in beating death of homeless man

Pima County Superior Court Judge Edgar Acuña could have given Scott Allen King, 19, as many as eight years in prison, but said he believes King’s older brother was more culpable in the death of Steve Gedatus, 62.

He would have given King probation if that had been an option, Acuña said.

King has behaved well since his arrest, is working on his GED, has minimal criminal history and is remorseful, Acuña said.

Gedatus was panhandling with four other homeless men near Interstate 10 and South Craycroft Road when King, his brother, Adam Scott King, 29, and two other men came across them and began harassing them, according to court testimony.

During the ensuing confrontation, Gedatus was kicked twice in the left side, once in the ribs and once in the thighs.

Gedatus declined to file a complaint with sheriff’s deputies for fear of retaliation and did not seek medical treatment. His body was found three days later in the same area. An autopsy revealed he suffered five broken ribs and a ruptured spleen during the attack.

The Kings were identified as suspects and arrested the following month on second-degree murder charges.

Both Kings were offered plea agreements in which they faced between one and 3.75 years if they pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, but both men had to take the deal.

Scott King rejected the offer and both men went to trial.

Scott King was convicted of negligent homicide in late July, the jury apparently believing he was merely an accomplice to his brother.

Adam King was convicted of second-degree murder last December, but Acuña granted him a new trial, saying he erred when giving jury instructions.

Prosecutors have appealed Acuña's decision, but the Arizona Court of Appeals has not yet issued a ruling on the matter.

If Adam King's conviction is upheld, he will receive somewhere between 10 and 22 years in prison.