Category: Court News

Local authorities say four men used an Uber to smuggle marijuana into Mohave County from California. Bullhead City police department spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said the Uber driver was unaware that the men possessed marijuana after picking them in Barstow. Fromelt said the men were traveling to Kingman when contacted during a June 27 traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Yucca, about 20 miles south of Kingman. “During the traffic stop, 47.6 pounds of marijuana was located in two large bags in the trunk of the Uber car. A hand gun was also located in the vehicle,” Fromelt said. “The Uber…

A Fort Mohave man’s personable testimony provided insight into the world of drug addiction in a trial during which his attorney conceded five convictions while successfully beating a sales rap and mandatory prison. The Mohave County Superior Court jury acquitted Ezequiel Lopez-Cabrera, 32, of possession of a narcotic drug for sale. The jury convicted Lopez-Cabrera of five felony offenses involving possession of heroin and methamphetamine and paraphernalia to ingest both drugs, the charges conceded at the start of the trial.  The defendant told the jury about his early use of methamphetamine at the age of 17 and how it made…

A Lake Havasu City man who resolved five criminal cases in a single plea agreement has been given a nine year prison term. Punishment imposed for Gaige Martinez, 21, was mandated under terms of the deal approved by Judge Billy Sipe. Charges from a dine and dash caper and another criminal case were dismissed in exchange for Martinez’ guilty pleas in three others. Defense attorney Brad Rideout said driving, drug, and alcohol involvements are consistent in Martinez’ criminal history. “He made some pretty bad decisions, all of them involving vehicles and drugs or alcohol,” Rideout said at the June 24…

A Lake Havasu City man who allegedly engaged in a mini crime wave in Mohave Valley faces an assortment of criminal charges. The Mohave County Sheriff’s office reports the Wednesday arrest of Richard Anderson, 21. Agency spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said deputies responded at 4:22 p.m. to a shoplifting report at a business in the 1000 block of Highway 95. The reporting party advised that a subject later identified as Anderson took merchandise without paying before he entered a neighboring business. Mortensen said Anderson grabbed a tip jar from the second business and that employees who tried to stop the theft feared…

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…