KINGMAN – The ex-con who was shot by police following a Kingman bank robbery will be returning to prison for more than two decades. Judge Billy Sipe imposed a 23-year prison sentence during a Jan. 17 sentencing hearing for Mario Fragassi, 54, Golden Valley.
Thirteen years was mandated in a plea agreement convicting Fragassi of armed robbery and aggravated assault for the Feb. 26, 2024 robbery of Mission Bank on Hualapai Mountain road. Judge Sipe tacked on 10 years more for an unrelated conviction for disorderly conduct involving weapons for prohibited possession of firearms associated with ten prior felony convictions.
Kingman Police said Fragassi demanded cash and exited the bank with $1,700 before hopping in the getaway pickup truck driven by Christopher Ayala, 49, California. The bank bandits fled to the Napa Auto Parts store in the 2500 block of Andy Devine Ave. where Fragassi was wounded when shot by police, while Ayala was able to use a cab to flee before he was arrested the next day.
Ayala is serving a 9.5-year prison term after pleading guilty to robbery and unlawful use of transportation.
Defense attorney Ross Carponelli argued that the fentanyl-addicted Fragassi brandished, but did not fire his weapon when he was shot multiple times by police. Deputy county attorney James Schoppmann said the defendant made admissions that he fired a round during the encounter.
The Lake Havasu City police department conducted an independent investigation of the officer involved shooting. The police who fired upon Fragassi, sergeant Jason Huerta and officers Steven Rosa and Gilbert Gima were cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to active duty a couple of weeks after the shooting.
Dave Hawkins
