Category: Court News

Defense attorney Robin Puchek is fighting for court ordered suppression of his client’s incriminating statements to officers before the Bullhead City man’s child pornography trial starts  in Kingman. Michael David Barrett, 42, is charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for images of child pornography found in October 2017 on a computer in his home in Katherine Heights. Barrett is also charged in a separate case with three counts of child molestation and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor. The charges pending for a second trial later this year involve Barrett’s involvement in alleged touching…

More than four pounds of methamphetamine and nearly six ounces of heroin was found in an SUV following a Wednesday afternoon traffic stop in Kingman. Two handguns, several cell phones, tablets, two scales and a couple of syringes were also seized, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s office. Department spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said patrolling deputies recognized the vehicle from previous contacts. She said they also observed the passenger to be Nicholas Mitchell Markham, a 35-year-old Kingman man whom they knew to be named in an arrest warrant. Mortensen said that the SUV also lacked a functioning brake light and that…

A key mistake by the prosecutor prompted Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert to order direct verdicts of acquittal in the trial of a Mohave Valley man. Joseph Carter, 52, faced a possible lengthy prison sentence had he been convicted of possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia and two misconduct involving weapons charges. The trial opened in Kingman on Tuesday and deputy Mohave County Attorney Jaimye Ashley rested her case early Wednesday afternoon. In what is known as a Rule 20 motion, defense attorney Melissa Barry asked Judge Lambert to order direct verdicts of acquittal on the basis…

Attorneys presented opening statements in record time as trial in Kingman opened Tuesday for a Mohave Valley man facing drug and weapons related charges. Prosecutor Jaimye Ashley and defense attorney Melissa Barry spent less than five minutes addressing the jury at the start of trial for Joseph Carter, 42. Carter is charged with possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and two misconduct involving weapons counts. Ashley said a December 2016 search of a shed outside Carter’s home produced the seizure of numerous little baggies containing small amounts of methamphetamine, some of them holding just residue. She told the…