Category: Court News

KINGMAN – A defense attorney contends a severe substance abuse problem is the only explanation for the bizarre behavior of a transient at the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport. Police said Kurt Baxter, 30, cleared a security fence before using bolt cutters to damage utility panels, fuses and wires to cause a power outage involving the airport control tower on Oct. 21. Baxter evaded security personnel but was arrested the next day. He pleaded guilty to burglary in Nov. and appeared for sentencing on Friday, Dec. 15. Mohave County Public Defender Jovan Ruvalcaba said Baxter recognizes his drug addiction troubles and intends…

The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes to the Superior Court Local Rules.   The proposed new Local Rules can be found on the court’s webpage Mohavecourts.com under ‘News and Notices’ or a paper copy will be provided by calling 928-753-0790.      Comments can be submitted by email to courtadmin@mohavecourts.com or by mailing them to Superior Court Administration 415 E. Spring Street, P.O. Box 7000 Kingman, AZ 86402.    Comments must be received no later than January 19, 2024, to be considered.      Following this time period, the comments and the proposed new Local Rules will be submitted to the Supreme Court for final…

KINGMAN – Attorneys assembling Tuesday for jury selection for trial in Mohave County Superior Court resolved the case instead by plea agreement instead. Monte Anderson, 53, Kingman, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent exposure involving an eight-year-old girl. A sexual conduct with a minor charge is dismissed. Public Defender Paul Amann said Anderson always denied engaging in any sexual activity with the girl, but conceded being naked in her presence on the three occasions in question. Sentencing is scheduled Jan. 2, though the plea deal stipulates punishment of 11.25 years in prison. Amann said Anderson is considered a repetitive…

KINGMAN – Attorneys assembling Tuesday for jury selection for trial in Mohave County Superior Court resolved the case instead by plea agreement instead. Monte Anderson, 53, Kingman, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent exposure involving an eight-year-old girl. A sexual conduct with a minor charge is dismissed. Public Defender Paul Amann said Anderson always denied engaging in any sexual activity with the girl, but conceded being naked in her presence on the three occasions in question. Sentencing is scheduled Jan. 2, though the plea deal stipulates punishment of 11.25 years in prison. Amann said Anderson is considered a repetitive…

KINGMAN – A former Mohave County Sheriff’s deputy has been acquitted at his sex offense trial in Kingman. The Superior Court trial jury deliberated for less than an hour Thursday, Dec. 7 before finding Andrew Sundberg, 24, not guilty of sexual abuse and sexual conduct with a minor. “After almost two and a half years of having my character and named judged in the court of public opinion, I am relieved and excited that I was exonerted by a jury of my peers,” Sundberg said, in a statement released by his attorney Virginia Crews. “At the moment the biggest emotion…

BULLHEAD CITY – A Bullhead City woman whose young daughter was murdered by a family friend nine years ago is likely returning to the Arizona Department of Corrections to serve another multiple-year prison term. Tania Grogan, 38, entered a plea deal on Nov. 28 that would require Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen to order an eight-year prison term for transporting narcotic drugs for sale. Drugs have permeated years of tragedy for Grogan, whose eight-year-old daughter Isabella Grogan-Canella was asphyxiated by Justin Rector and buried in a shallow grave in Sept., 2014. Rector, now 35, who said he had…