MOHAVE VALLEY — Getting some money into the hands of an elderly Mohave Valley man who is destitute after being robbed of his life savings was a key component in a lenient plea deal offered in the case against one of three defendants. Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle rejected the plea agreement in the case against Jesi Huckaby during a December 10 hearing.
Huckaby, 29, Cody Huckaby, 36, both of Oregon, and Breanna Millett, 44, Bullhead City, were charged in the theft of $150,000-$200,000 from the 86-year old victim who was 82-years old when he learned he was robbed on May 19, 2022.
A detailed Probable Cause statement indicated that Millett had visited the victim’s home in the 8100 block of Smoketree Lane in Mohave Valley. It said she knew where his safe was located in the home and planned the burglary.
The statement alleged that a call from a phone associated with Millett was used to contact the victim and lure him away from his property to a Laughlin casino.
“Breanna and Cody Huckaby sat down the road from the victim’s house and waited for the victim to leave,” the statement said. “After the victim had left the two went to the house in Cody’s Dodge truck and went inside the residence, broke into the safe and walked out with $200,000 in cash and jewelry.
The victim reported the incident when he returned to find his home burgled and his safe opened and damaged.
The case was unsolved before the Huckaby’s were arrested in a federal drug bust in Oregon. Investigation there led to development of the criminal case in Mohave County.
“This incident makes me feel dumb because I trusted someone and they took advantage of me,” an advocate for the victim said when reading his impact statement into the record. “I don’t feel safe in my own home.”
Deputy county attorney James Schoppmann pleaded with the Court to approve the no prison, no jail, no probation, misdemeanor plea deal for Jesi Huckaby. Though she shared in the proceeds, defense attorney Bruce Griffen said his client was the least culpable of the trio because she did not enter the home or break into the victim’s safe.
Schoppmann said the Jesi Huckaby plea deal would result in a forfeiture that could put some much needed $15,000 in restitution in the victim’s pocket within in 10-15 days.
“He essentially has no funds,” Schoppmann said. He called the lenient plea deal a “very extraordinary remedy” under unique circumstance supported by the impoverished victim.
Carlisle said he understands the intent of the plea proposal, but rejected it saying the misdemeanor conviction and no probation components are unacceptable. Carlisle approved Griffen’s request to recuse himself so the case can be assigned to another judge.
Another plea deal for Millett was accepted and she was given a three year prison term during her December 9 sentencing hearing. She will also serve probation for three years following her release.
Cody Huckaby is serving prison time in federal prison in Oregon for drug convictions. Carlisle has ordered his return to Arizona to face prosecution for the Mohave Valley case.
