KINGMAN – A local judge approved a plea agreement that he said was “entirely inappropriate” during a Tuesday sentencing hearing at the Mohave County courthouse in Kingman. Judge Billy Sipe said he only did so because attorneys provided him confidential information during a private meeting in his chambers before the hearing. Neither Public Defender Jon Gillenwater, nor deputy county attorney Reid Weisberg would comment when asked if the judge was approving the deal because Jose Flores Del Angel, 37, was working with law enforcement authorities on drug matters. Judge Sipe said he disliked the charge reduction and the four-year prison…

KINGMAN – A Mohave County jury has convicted a man of hauling drugs through Mohave County. The panel deliberated about 3.5 hours Wednesday before finding Yefry Harrison Arias-Saldana, 35, guilty of transportation of dangerous drugs for sale and transportation of narcotic drugs for sale. The defendant from Chicago, Illinois was acquitted of a drug paraphernalia possession count. Attorneys presented opening statements in the trial in Kingman Tuesday afternoon. Arias-Saldana did not return Wednesday and a warrant for his arrest was issued after the verdicts were read at the courthouse. Authorities said almost 12 pounds of methamphetamine and about 2.5 pounds…