BULLHEAD CITY – A local judge last Friday rejected a plea agreement for the last of three defendants being prosecuted for a Feb., 2019 drug bust in Mohave Valley. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle said it was unfair that Javier Escalante, 41, Ontario, California receives less prison time than another co-defendant who was less culpable.
Carlisle said a presentence report indicated that Escalante was directing co-defendants Maria Kormes, 33, Mohave Valley and Edgar Melgoza, 39, Fresno, California when drugs were seized from two vehicles during traffic stops.
Carlisle sent Melgoza to prison for 7.5 years in October under terms of a plea agreement convicting him of solicitation of transportation of dangerous drugs for sale and solicitation of transportation of narcotic drugs for sale. Police reportedly seized more than 8 pounds of methamphetamine and about 5 ounces of heroin from the vehicle Melgoza was operating.
25 grams of methamphetamine was found in Kormes’ purse during a search of the vehicle she and Escalante occupied. Kormes pleaded guilty to attempted possession of dangerous drugs for sale and she faces probation up to 8.75 years in prison when sentenced Feb. 12.
Escalante pleaded guilty to attempted possession of dangerous drugs but the judge rejected as too lenient the maximum sentence of 3.5 years in prison. The defendant withdrew his plea and the case will be assigned to another judge for resolution.
Dave Hawkins
