LAKE HAVASU CITY — Judge Billy Sipe vacated next month’s trial after a Lake Havasu City man entered a plea agreement during an October 23 hearing in Kingman. Robbery and theft charges are dismissed in exchange for an aggravated assault conviction for Thomas Ward, 56.
Deputy Mohave County attorney Aaron Smith said Ward attacked a bicyclist who pedaled by him at 2122 McCulloch Boulevard N on February 5. Smith said Ward was seated on a bench when he rose to knock the victim from his bike, punched him and took money from one of his pockets.
Defense attorney Ross Carponelli said Ward was not admitting any theft offense.
“I didn’t take anything from him,” Ward said, while acknowledging the assault. “I did pin him to the ground.”
Terms of the deal call for supervised probation with no further jail time at a November 19 sentencing hearing.
