BULLHEAD CITY – A five-year prison term was ordered Monday for a Las Vegas woman who pleaded guilty to multiple charges in a deadly jet ski accident on the Colorado River in Bullhead City.
There is no dispute that Iridian Basoco, 27, had drugs in her system when the private watercraft she operated entered a designated swim zone at a high rate of speed on July 4, 2022 near Community Park. Two people were struck in the water and two more on the beach after the jet ski exited the river.
The first person struck, Ricardo Almanza, 43, Corona, Calif., died of his injuries two days after the crash. Three other southern Californians were treated at hospitals for their injuries.
A blood draw revealed traces of Alprazolam, Xanax and oxycodone and marijuana in the defendant’s bloodstream. Defense attorney Jack Litwack conceded Basoco used the drugs to deal with a traumatic brain injury and previous sexual assault, but argued there was no proof that she was impaired at the time of the crash.
The plea agreement approved by Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen is very similar to deals two other bench colleagues rejected because of prison leniency.
Jantzen accepted and approved the plea deal noting that five years in prison is sufficient when victims are not objecting to the case resolution.
“I don’t understand how a judge can reject this plea agreement when there’s no victim complaining about it,” Jantzen said. “This isn’t even close to being too lenient for the defendant.”
Basoco is convicted of negligent homicide, three counts of aggravated assault and the misdemeanor offense of boating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Jantzen also ordered Basoco to pay almost $37,000 in restitution, as stipulated by attorneys.
