Category: Court News

KINGMAN – Two protesters picketed outside the Mohave County Law and Justice Center as an alleged animal hoarder appeared for a change of plea hearing in downtown Kingman. The plea finally entered on Tuesday, May 21 came after a number of delays last year when Bette Fuschel, 78, claimed difficulty in arranging transportation from Dolan Springs. Various animal advocates have long complained that Fuschel should be the focus of more rigorous prosecution. One protest sign displayed Tuesday insisted the Court should “lock her up.” Mohave County Animal Control Officers reportedly seized 46 dogs from separate rural residential properties on Jan. 11…

KINGMAN – A Kingman man admits firing upon public safety officials who responded to his medical emergency call at his home last fall. Steven Willard, 67, pleaded guilty Friday, May 17 to two counts of aggravated assault. Terms of the plea deal dismiss two attempted murder counts and a prohibited weapon possession charge. Deputy Mohave County Attorney Phillip Delgado said two Northern Arizona Fire District firefighter/EMT’s responded to Willard’s call for help at his home at 3725 E. John L. Ave. on Oct. 22, 2023. “When they entered to assist him he was seated with an AR-15 style rifle,” Delgado…

KINGMAN – A young man facing possible life behind bars instead gained freedom when a Mohave County Superior Court jury acquitted him at his sex offense trial in Kingman Wednesday morning, May 15. Keith Jones, 22, was charged with five counts each of sexual assault and sexual conduct with a minor for alleged activity with an underage female teenager in Kingman. Determining insufficient evidence to merit conviction, Judge Derek Carlisle dismissed three of the ten charges late Tuesday before jurors returned to deliberate the other counts Wednesday. 40 minutes later, the panel acquitted Jones of all of the other charges….

KINGMAN – The arraignment of defendants in criminal court proceedings is most commonly mundane, ministerial and uneventful. It was no different when Daniel Avila finally made his first local court appearance on May 16, nearly two years after he allegedly killed a Kingman area couple. Avila, 26, El Mirage, faces prosecution for the June 27, 2022 shooting deaths of Retta Atkins, 73, also known as the “Gold Lady”, and Darren VanHouten, 50, at their home on the backside of the Hualapai Mountains from Kingman. Eerie surveillance system video from their residence in the 2900 block of Dilligaf Road reveals a subject…

KINGMAN – A Kingman woman faces more than a decade behind bars after pleading guilty in a deadly traffic accident on Thursday, May 16. Liana Wellington, 35, will be convicted of manslaughter and aggravated driving while impaired. Authorities said Wellington was speeding and intoxicated when the Nissan Altima she was operating struck a Kia Soul that was turning right on Highway 68 in Golden Valley on Dec. 27, 2023. The driver of the Kia, Warren Hutchinson, 81, was fatally injured. Deputy Mohave County Attorney Jacob Cote told Judge Doug Camacho that Wellington was speeding at about 96 miles per hour just…

BULLHEAD CITY – The Bullhead City Police Department will be hosting a free Vehicle Theft Prevention & Awareness event, where officers will provide free VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) Etching. The etching equipment was provided by the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) to help law enforcement agencies reduce stolen vehicles.    “VIN etching is chemically etching the vehicle identification number onto all windows, which discourages thieves from stealing your vehicle and selling your car parts to unsuspecting customers or chop shops,” said Community Services Officer Lorrie Duggins.   The public is invited to the Bullhead City Police Department, 1255 Marina Boulevard,…