Category: Court News

Man accused of stealing $170,000 cash in a suitcase from Walmart His comments at a settlement conference provide hints of the possible legal defense for the Kingman man accused of stealing a suitcase full of cash he found unattended at the local Walmart last summer. Jeremiah Peacey, 40, is charged with theft and trafficking in stolen property.    “Who has $170,000 that they just carry around in a briefcase,” Judge Billy Sipe stated rhetorically, reflecting a question that surfaced early in the case.    “Exactly,” Peacey responded.    That exchange, and other portions of the hearing, revealed that Peacey is apparently claiming the…

A Kingman man admits wearing body armor while committing armed robberies, kidnappings and assaults during business invasions last year. An assortment of 47 charges are dismissed in the plea agreement entered Monday that aims to resolve ten indicted cases.    Francis Allison, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault for a January 1, 2018 incident in Valle Vista, north of Kingman. Prosecutor Rod Albright said Allison and co-defendant Anthony Axton, 32, Kingman, were armed when they entered the back door of a business about closing time and directed two female employees to hand over cash before they were…

An undercover sting operation targeting use of the internet to lure minors for sexual exploitation has resulted in nine arrests, seven of them involving Mohave County residents. The sheriff’s office, with support from other area law enforcement agencies, has been conducting the investigation through social media for the past several months.    “These appalling individuals are predators,” said Sheriff Doug Schuster. “They are the filth of our society and every effort will be made to ensure these monsters are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”   Two suspects nabbed in the sting operation have already pleaded guilty to luring a…

A Kingman man was allegedly combative with staff members who were trying to conduct an initial medical assessment as he arrived for booking into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center last Friday afternoon. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said Gregg Alan Maclaren, 56, yelled at nurses and ignored detention officer commands to cease and desist.    Mortensen said officers had Maclaren place his hands on the wall so they could handcuff him and lead him to a holding cell.    “As officers were doing so, Maclaren grabbed a pen from the desk and lunged toward officers in a stabbing motion with the…

A second defendant in a double homicide entered a plea agreement that will send him to prison for more than a decade. Jose Eduardo Vizcara, 29, Bullhead City, is convicted of two counts of kidnapping while first degree murder, body abandonment, theft, unlawful flight and drug-related charges are dismissed.    Prosecutor Jaimye Ashley, during an April 19 hearing, said both murder victims were herded into a bedroom of a Bullhead City home where they were interrogated in January, 2018. She said that the assailants suspected that Mona Carter, 51, was working as a snitch and that Daryl Ward, 22, had…

Normal operations at the Mohave County Adult Detention Center in Kingman are suspended as the Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into drug overdoses involving five inmates. Each of the male inmates required treatment at Kingman Regional Medical Center after they suffered medical emergencies about 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.    One inmate was admitted to the hospital, but all five have been returned to the jail.    Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said authorities were unable to specifically identify the drug involved, but opioids are suspected.    “During the course of the investigation, information was received that more of the substance may be in the…