BULLHEAD CITY — A ten-year prison term was ordered September 24 in the case against one Bullhead City man who shot another in April. The punishment Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle imposed for Tony Chafin, 40, was the maximum possible under terms of a plea agreement.
Chafin was convicted of aggravated assault in a plea deal that dimissed an attempted second-degree murder count and another criminal charge for prohibited possession of a weapon.
Authorities said a verbal argument escalated to gunfire as Chafin was leaving the 35-year-old victim’s home in the 800 block of Roadruner Avenue. Deputy Mohave County attorney Rod Gilleo said the victim sustained collarbone and shoulder injuries, resulting in pain, loss of employment and health insurance and related financial difficulty.
“I just apologize for all of this,” Chafin told the Court. “I do.”
Defense attorney Bob Heieck said his difficult childhood and other factors render Chafin vulnerable to “explosive disorder” triggers. “Given his upbringing, his circumstances, he finds himself in trouble a lot,” Heieck said.
Carlisle cited a mix of prior felony and misdemeanor convictions that he said represented an extensive criminal history. He said the victim’s hardship was another reason justifying maximum punishment in a 5-10 year prison range.
