Category: Court News

A Bullhead City man cried throughout a Friday hearing in Kingman before he was given a life prison term for killing his friend’s eight-year-old daughter nearly five years ago. Justin Rector, 31, pleaded guilty last December to first degree murder in the asphyxiation death of Isabella (Bella) Grogan-Cannella. Rector told investigators early in the case that he had been up for a couple of days and using methamphetamine when Bella went missing. Her partially-clad body was found in a makeshift grave about a half mile from her home in September, 2014. His father, daughter and two sisters addressed the Court,…

A gender-conflicted defendant who engaged in sexual activity with a five-year-old boy was ordered to the Arizona Department of Corrections Wednesday. Judge Billy Sipe imposed an 8-year prison sentence for 41-year-old Danielle Tatianna Moran. The defendant who was born a male but self identifies as female appeared in pigtails for the hearing. Judge Sipe and attorneys used female pronouns in referencing Moran, though she is listed as a male at the county jail. There is no dispute that Moran admitted touching the boy and having the boy touch him when he was residing with the victim’s parents. Moran pleaded guilty to two…

A young Bullhead City woman entered a plea agreement Wednesday involving underage drinking, drunk driving and a collision with another vehicle and a building. Cali Samson, 21, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, criminal damage and two aggravated assault charges. An underage drinking count was dismissed in the deal requiring the Court to place Samson on probation for three years. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert can also order up to 120 days jail time at an August 12 sentencing hearing. Samson was 20 years old and impaired when the car she was driving struck another vehicle causing…

A Bullhead City man was released from the Adult Detention Center in Kingman Monday after he was sentenced for a grocery store parking lot robbery. Steven Picard, 29, is convicted of theft in a plea agreement dismissing a robbery charge. Police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said Picard confronted a customer outside Smith’s Food & Drug on Lakeside Drive on March 31. She said Picard fled after struggling to gain control of the man’s wallet from his pant pocket. The victim was not injured during the encounter. His attorney arranged for Picard’s surrender five days after the robbery when citizens were recognizing…

A Kokomo, Indiana man busted while hauling a load of methamphetamine through Mohave County entered a mandatory prison plea agreement at the Mohave County Courthouse on July 3. Cristian Lopez, 23, pleaded guilty to transportation of dangerous drugs for sale. Authorities said the Department of Public Safety stopped the vehicle Lopez was driving when it made a lane change without turn signal notice on Interstate 15 just south of the Utah border on January 19. Lopez’ license had been suspended and prosecutor Jacob Cote told Judge Billy Sipe that officer detection of the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle…