Category: Court News

A Mohave Valley man who claims the death of his older girlfriend was a mercy killing attended a pre-trial conference in Kingman on March 6. James Paul Manker, 28, is charged with first degree murder in the Jan. 29 shooting death of Tina Stimmell, 56, at their residence at 9903 S. Needles Drive. A probable cause statement indicated that Manker and Stimmell failed when they tried to use natural gas within the home to commit double suicide. He told a detective that he shot Stimmell in the head through a pillow as she slept on a recliner in the living…

A Bullhead City man will spend at least 40 years in prison for his involvement in a double homicide. Sentence was imposed Feb. 27 for Francisco Romero, 26. Romero pled guilty to first degree murder for the shooting death of Daryl Ward, 22, and to kidnapping for the abduction of Mona Carter, 51. Romero must serve at least 25 years in prison before he is eligible for parole for the murder conviction and he must serve 15 years more for the Carter kidnapping. Five co-defendants face a range of charges for their alleged involvement in the same case. Authorities have…

KINGMAN – A Kingman teenager prosecuted as an adult is going to the Arizona Department of Corrections for his role in an assault that evolved into a shooting a year ago. Angel Bravo was just 16 years old when he and three co-defendants lured another 16-year-old male to a Kingman park where he was confronted over an alleged debt. Prosecutor Bob Moon said Bravo used a shotgun like a club when he butted it into the victim’s head at the community park on Willow Road. He said the victim suffered two non-life threatening wounds when shot by Timothy Bell, 19,…

GOLDEN VALLEY – A Golden Valley teenager involved in a burglary spree is going to the Arizona Department of Corrections. An 11.5-year prison term is mandated in a plea agreement entered March 1 for Austin Ward, 19. Twelve miscellaneous charges are dismissed in exchange for Ward’s convictions for five burglary charges, theft of means of transportation and unlawful flight from law enforcement. Prosecutor Bob Moon said Ward was a one-man crime wave who left at least 20 victims in his wake  in the Golden Valley and Kingman area. Moon said Ward targeted commercial and residential property and vehicles during his crime…

A Feb. 28 hearing involving a Bullhead City child abuse case was halted by a hiccup involving restitution. Terms of the deal required 22-year-old Dalton Milne’s guilty plea to child abuse with punishment ranging from probation up to seven years in prison. An agreement had not been reached on restitution and defense attorney Michael Beane requested that the hearing be continued because he would not stipulate to an undesignated amount, capped at $1 million. Attorneys might resolve the restitution issue and complete entry of the change of plea at the next hearing which is scheduled before Mohave County Superior Court…