KINGMAN – A local judge has rejected a plea agreement proposed for the Henderson man who used a modified armored vehicle that served as his home to block the U.S. 93 Colorado River bridge linking Arizona with Nevada north of Kingman. It was nearly two years ago when Matthew Wright, 32, stopped traffic on the bridge during a 90-minute ordeal that ended when he drove south into the Arizona desert where his big rig was immobilized.
It was revealed during Monday’s hearing in Kingman that Wright claims he was protesting government handling of the shooting massacre that killed 58 people and wounded more than 400 others in Las Vegas. Defense attorney Michael Denea emphasized that Wright had no intent to injure anybody and expected to spend the weekend in jail.
While nobody was hurt in the incident, Judge Billy Sipe noted that Wright was “loaded for bear” inside a fortified vehicle with weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, bullet proof vest and a gas mask.
“He was there for combat. There’s no question,” Judge Sipe said. “He wasn’t there just to pass out literature.”
Wright pleaded guilty to making a terrorist threat, aggravated assault and flight from law enforcement. Judge Sipe rejected the deal principally because it was structured to require him to impose a prison term between seven and 8.75 years.
Sipe said ten to 25 years in prison would be a more acceptable range of possible punishment. Judge Sipe scheduled a June 15 status hearing with Wright’s case likely headed to trial unless attorneys can reach a resolution acceptable to all parties.
- Dave Hawkins
