BULLHEAD CITY — A Bullhead City man blew up his own plea agreement a second time during a July 9 hearing in Kingman. He did the same thing during a previous hearing in late May.
48-year-old Michael Eisen is charged with two aggravated assault charges and disorderly conduct involving a weapon.
The state supports the Bullhead City Police Department’s allegation that Eisen was operating an Infinity Qx60 westbound on Hancock Road on April 29 when he pulled up next to a motorcycle and pointed a weapon at its female operator.
Police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said Eisen swerved toward the motorcycle before it crashed with the 47-year-old woman transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The probation eligible plea deal that would have convicted him of aggravated assault and a weapons offense imploded as Eisen claimed innocence and blamed the motorcyclist for the encounter.
Eisen said the woman deliberately slowed down in front of him, saying he suspected she was trying to cause a crash for an insurance settlement. He said the woman verbally threatened him and his son before she reached for her fanny pack.
Eisen said he suspected she was reaching for a weapon and he felt it was necessary to draw his own.
“The defendant is essentially saying he did nothing wrong,” said Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle, noting that Eisen must acknowledge culpability to save the plea agreement . “He has to admit that he committed the crime.”
Eisen explained he wanted to plead guilty to avoid a possible lengthy prison sentence.
“I can’t do 20 years for something I didn’t do,” he said. “I’m the dad of 11 (children). I want to go home to my kids and my wife is no spring chicken.”
With Eisen maintaining his innocence, the plea was rejected.
“In order to plead guilty, you have to admit the crime, but you are not doing that,” Judge Carlisle said.
Attorneys can work another plea deal or plan for trial. The case is set for a status hearing on July 18.
