In a major legal development, the Second Court of Appeals has reversed the capital murder conviction of James Irvin Staley III, who was serving a life sentence without parole for the 2018 death of 2-year-old Jason Wilder McDaniel.
The appellate court’s ruling, announced on March 6, 2025, means that Staley’s conviction has been overturned and the case has been remanded for a new trial.
Background of the Case
- Conviction Date: March 13, 2023
- Location: Tarrant County, Texas
- Verdict: Guilty of capital murder, sentenced to life without parole
- Appeal Filed: March 13, 2024
- Ruling: Conviction reversed, case remanded for new trial
Staley, who had been incarcerated at the Bill Clemens Unit in Amarillo, had been appealing his conviction for nearly a year before this decision.
Why Was the Conviction Overturned?
According to Keith Hampton, Staley’s appellate attorney, the appeal focused on constitutional violations related to evidence collection.
Key Issues Raised in the Appeal
Search Warrant Dispute – The defense argued that:
- The Mac Mini and Staley’s cell phone were not specifically named in the search warrant affidavit.
- Because of this, evidence obtained from these devices should have been inadmissible at trial.
Prosecution’s Counterargument – Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie disagreed, stating:
- The warrant contained ample details to justify the search.
- Texas law (Article 3836) allows prosecutors to introduce relationship and state-of-mind evidence in murder cases.
At this time, the official memorandum opinion from the appellate court has not been publicly released, leaving some legal details unclear.
What Happens Next?
Despite the conviction being overturned, prosecutors are not giving up.
District Attorney John Gillespie’s Response
Seeking Further Appeals: Gillespie announced that he will:
- Petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reinstate Staley’s conviction.
- If unsuccessful, retry the case and pursue another conviction.
Gillespie’s Statement: “The fight isn’t over—this is only the beginning. If we cannot get the conviction reinstated, then we’ll try the case again and get him a second time. I’ve only begun to fight.”