A local judge has imposed the harshest punishment possible under terms of a plea agreement resolving five drug cases involving a Needles resident. Judge Billy Sipe ordered a 20 year prison term during a June 4 sentencing hearing for Matthew Solari.
Solari, 31, was one of eight defendants convicted in a Bullhead City based opioid ring prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He also pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs for sale in three other cases handled by the Mohave County attorney’s office, which dismissed the final case.
Solari’s disabled mother begged the Court for compassion and leniency saying that she and Solari’s four year-old son rely upon the defendant. Solari expressed hope that his prison sentence would be short enough so that he could spend time with his son before he became an adult to steer him away from the criminal pathway he followed.
“Whatever sentence you give me today, I accept as a man,” Solari told Sipe. “I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Deputy county attorney Greg McPhillips argued Solari deserved the full range of punishment for selling an ounce of methamphetamine in January, 2018, 1.5 pounds of meth two weeks later and a third of a pound of meth four months later.
“There were ounces of methamphetamine involved in these cases and that’s a lot of methamphetamine in our community,” McPhillips said.
Judge Sipe agreed and noted that Solari racked up five felony convictions prior to the five cases resolved Tuesday. Sipe said he would impose a longer prison sentence if not limited by terms of the deal.
“The defendant is clearly a drug dealer in the community and involved in dealing large quantities. I’m imposing the full 20 years,” Sipe said. “He needs to be removed from society for as long as possible.”
Judge Sipe said he recently ordered a 50 year prison sentence in a similar drug case. He expressed hope that people read the newspaper and that the long prison terms send a message that might deter others from dealing drugs.
