KINGMAN, Ariz. – A Kingman man has been released from custody to serve probation and address his long-standing substance abuse issues. Bill Tobey, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge reduced to attempted possession of narcotic drugs for sale.
Deputy Mohave County Attorney Phillip Delgado said about three grams of fentanyl were seized from the vehicle Tobey was operating following a Sept. 12 traffic stop on Stockton Hill Road. He said officers also located a bag of sugar that Tobey was apparently using to “cut”, or mix with the drugs, increasing the amount of fentanyl for sale.
“I’m sorry for my addiction getting out of hand,” Tobey said during his Nov. 2 sentencing hearing. “I’d really be grateful for the opportunity of drug court or probation.”
Defense attorney Ross Carponelli also urged probation, noting that Tobey had been accepted for the Adult Recovery Court program.
Judge Billly Sipe told Tobey that the program is successful, but difficult to complete. Sipe placed Tobey on probation for three years and ordered no further incarceration beyond the 52 days already spent in custody.
Dave Hawkins
