Category: Court News

A man who was staring down the barrel of a life prison sentence if convicted of molesting his own daughters sobbed uncontrollably as a Mohave County Superior Court clerk read back verdicts that affirmed his freedom late Thursday afternoon. The jury deliberated less than a half hour before acquitting Dennis Sharkey, 34, of nine charges of child molestation, sexual conduct with a minor and sexual assault of a minor. Prosecutor Greg McPhillips said the alleged victims were 12 and 14 years old when they engaged in sexual activity with the defendant in June of last year at the family’s former…

A Bullhead City man who accosted and robbed a customer in a grocery store parking lot has entered a plea agreement resolving his criminal case short of trial. Bullhead City police said Steven Alexander Picard, 29, confronted the customer outside Smith’s Food & Drug on Lakeside Drive on March 31. Police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said a struggle ensued during which Picard was able to forcibly remove the victim’s wallet from one of his pant pockets. The victim was not injured, Picard fled the scene and police later posted his image from surveillance video from the store. Fromelt said police were…

Her attorney told the Court that Brianna Thompson of Lake Havasu City will use her time behind bars to work on her sobriety and build a platform for a drug free future. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle told Thompson, 26, she’ll need to continue that commitment once she gains her release from the Arizona Department of Corrections. The five year prison term Carlisle imposed June 18 was mandated in a plea agreement convicting her of several felony offenses while a multitude of other charges are dismissed. Thompson was convicted of possession of narcotic drugs for sale related to a July,…

A local man was arrested after an attempted robbery of a business in Fort Mohave Tuesday. Deputies responded at 5:50 p.m. to the unidentified business in the 4700 block of Highway 95. The Mohave County Sheriff’s office said employees indicated that the suspect identified as Augustine Gabriel Lewis, 39, entered the business and immediately looked around nervously before pulling out a knife as he approached the counter. Spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said another employee went to the back of the business and called for help. Mortensen said Lewis fled through another door after spotting the arriving deputy approaching to enter the…

Judge Billy Sipe has ordered a 15 year prison term for a Kingman man who had two violent encounters involving his estranged wife. It was the harshest sentence possible for Eric Maxwell, 42, under terms of a plea agreement convicting him of attempted second degree murder in one case and robbery in another. Prosecutor Jeff Haws said the robbery occurred in November, 2017 when Maxwell removed a screen to crawl through a window to enter the building where his wife worked in Kingman. Haws said Maxwell chased the victim through and outside the building and that he committed robbery by…

The first of two defendants charged in a Bullhead City drug case was sentenced to the Arizona Department of Corrections on June 17. Judge Billy Sipe ordered a six year prison term for 36-year-old Ryan Newsom who entered a plea agreement in April. Newsom pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted possession of a narcotic drug for sale. Methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia related charges were dismissed. Authorities said Newsom and co-defendant Desiree Castaneda, 23, lived together in a home in the 2100 block of Swan Place. An August, 2018 search of that residence turned up 19 grams of…