KINGMAN – A man who threatened Bullhead City police officers with a knife faces up to 22 years in prison following convictions on all counts at trial in Kingman. The Mohave County Superior Court jury deliberated about 30 minutes last week before finding Christopher Chambers, 42, guilty of aggravated assault, criminal damage and burglary.
Prosecutor Jaimye Ashley told the jury that officers responding to a burglary in progress ordered Chambers to exit the residence in the 2500 of View Way after they observed him moving from the master bedroom inside the home on April 24, 2018. She said police scaled a six-foot fence to access the rear of the property where they observed a back door had apparently been kicked in.
Chambers ignored police commands, according to Ashley, and an officer knocked him down as he tried to flee. Ashley said Chambers got up and opened a folding pocketknife that he removed from his cargo shorts.
Ashley said Chambers was tased and taken into custody after he refused to drop the weapon.
Defense attorney Adam Zickerman urged the jury to acquit his client of assault because he said Chambers didn’t charge or lunge at the officers.
“That’s not aggravated assault folks,” Zickerman said. “It might be disorderly conduct at best.”
Zickerman said the jury should acquit on the criminal damage count because it could not be proved that he kicked in the door. Zickerman said theft intent is a component of burglary and the charge should be ignored because Chambers didn’t take anything from the home.
Judge Billy Sipe has scheduled sentencing for Oct. 30.
