Hayden Man Convicted of Killing His Ex-Wife

(CORRECTION:) The original version of this story said Ortega was sentenced to 46 years. This was incorrect. Ortega was found guilty but not sentenced. Sentencing will be on June 2. I apologize for the mistake.--Roland

A Hayden man has been convicted of killing his ex-wife with a knife.

The Gila County Attorney’s Office says 38 year old Guillermo Ortego III was found guilty of second degree murder, attempted second degree murder and aggravated assault. 

Prosecutors say Ortega attacked his ex-wife in her home on April 28, 2013. She suffered fatal injuries to her neck. Her brother heard the struggle and came to her aid and was wounded in the chest and neck with the same knife.

Ortega will be sentenced on June 2 in Globe.

Disciplinary Judge Dismisses Complaint Against Chief Deputy County Attorney Shawn Fuller

Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp has announced that Presiding Disciplinary Judge William O’Neil has dismissed, with prejudice, the bar complaint against Chief Deputy County Attorney Shawn Fuller.

Judge Duber Won't Seek Re-Election Because of 'Toxic and Confrontational Atmosphere'

Gila County Superior Court Judge Robert Duber has announced that he is not running for re-election because of “bullying” and “political self-interest” by the Gila County Attorney’s Office.

The Payson Roundup reports that there has been an increasingly bitter confrontation between the Superior Court judges and prosecutors working for Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp. 

The newspaper reports that the dispute started with complaints by prosecutors that Judge Peter Cahill rejected some proposed plea bargains. The prosecutor’s office has been routinely requesting a new judge anytime a criminal case is assigned to Cahill, which means Judge Duber has been taking the majority of criminal cases. This has led to a huge backlog.

Judge Duber also told the Roundup that the current county prosecutor’s office has skirted the the ethical edge when it comes to key rules—like disclosing evidence.

Duber says that in his 28 years on the bench, he has never encountered such a toxic and confrontational atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Chief Deputy Gila County Attorney Shawn Fuller faces charges filed by the State Bar disciplinary council for a series of incidents in which he walked out of the court in a dispute with Judge Cahill or interrupted defense attorneys. Fuller has apologized to Judge Cahill.

(Read the entire Payson Roundup article here.)

More:

• Convictions overturned, prosecutors rebuked

• Quashed contempt order reveals tensions

Sullivan Sentenced to 4.25 Years

On Friday, November 1, 27 year old Iroquois Sullivan was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sullivan was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe when law enforcement personnel searched his home on August 16.

Sullivan was convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia on October 9, following a two day jury trial. In aggravation, the court also found that Sullivan had previously been convicted of four prior felony offenses.

Two Local Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Copper from BHP

Two local men have pleaded guilty to charges of stealing copper from the BHP mine. They were caught in the act by Miami Police Lieutenant Spencer Preston during the early morning hours of May 9.

Thirty-two year old Michael Woods will be sentenced today (October 28). He faces a mandatory sentence of three years in the Arizona Department of Corrections followed by a term of supervised probation.

Twenty-five year old Anthony Stewart had only been released from prison for one week when this incident occurred. He will be sentenced on November 2.  Stewart  faces a mandatory sentence of 4.5 years in the Department of Corrections.

Globe Man Sentenced for Domestic Violence Assault and Drug Convictions

On Monday, 43 year old Jason Moss was sentenced to more than six years in the Arizona Department of Corrections in two separate cases.

On June 23 the Gila County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence call. At the scene the victim said that Moss assaulted her and that the assault may have been caught on the residence’s video surveillance system.

The video showed Moss hitting the victim twice in the face.

Moss was arrested for the domestic violence assaults and while on pretrial release, he was found in possession of methamphetamine. He plead guilty to the assault and methamphetamine charges on October 1.

The plea agreements dictated aggravated, consecutive sentences in the Department of Corrections

Pahe Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison

Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp has announced that on Monday, October 14, 50 year old Globe resident Lyle Pahe was sentenced to 7.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections for aggravated assault.

On August 2, Pahe stabbed the victim several times while the victim was sleeping on a bench in downtown Globe. Pahe initially said that the victim attacked him first and he was just defending himself. He then changed his story several times and told investigators that he couldn’t remember what happened because he was drunk.

Pahe plead guilty to aggravated assault on September 6. At the sentencing the state recommended an aggravated term of 7.5 years in prison because Pahe caused physical  harm to the victim and had a criminal history of 6 misdemeanor convictions.

Gila County Attorney's Office Collecting Personal Hygiene Items for Domestic Violence Shelter

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp’s office and the Victim Services Department are collecting personal hygiene items for the local Domestic Violence Shelter. This includes shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes and more.

For more information call 402-8836.

Training Programs Wednesday at the Gila County Courthouse

“The Cenpatico Crisis System” and the “Frontline on the Home Front” training programs are being held Wednesday in the Gila County Courthouse Supervisors’ Hearing Room from 9:am to 5:pm.

The programs are sponsored by the Gila County Attorney’s Office. For information call 402-8841.

Gila County Attorney to Offer Two Training Sessions

Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp is sponsoring two training sessions in September.

The “Cenpatico Crisis System” informational session in Globe begins at 9:am on Tuesday, September 24 and at 1:pm on Wednesday, September 25 in the Supervisors Hearing Room at the Gila County Courthouse.

The “Frontline on the Homefront” session helps service members, veterans and their families. It offers four hours of continuing education for law enforcement, EMS and behavioral health. It starts at 9:am on Wednesday, September 25 at the Gila County Courthouse.

For information or to register call Sharon Listiak at 402-8841.

Man Who Started Little League Concession Stand Fire Pleads Guilty

The man who set fire to the Little League concession stand has pleaded guilty to that offense and two other separate cases that occurred in Payson.

The fire at the Pinal Mountain Little League fields on February 15 was originally ruled an accident and investigators had no leads as to its cause. Several weeks later, investigators learned from Gila County Detention Officers that 21 year old Taylor James Vance-Parker had been bragging that he started a fire at a baseball field near Walmart. An interview was conducted with officers in the jail and Vance-Parker admitted that he started the fire.

It is estimated that Vance-Parker caused more than  $40,000 in damage by starting the fire.

Vance-Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3 in Globe.

Under a plea agreement, Vance-Parker will be sentenced  to 4.5 to six years in prison and will be placed on supervised probation following his discharge from custody. The plea agreement also requires Vance-Parker to reimburse the Pinal Mountain Little League for full economic restitution for the damage he caused.

Deputy George Carrillo is Officer of the Quarter

Gila County Attorney Bradley Beauchamp has announced that his office has recognized Gila County Sheriff’s Deputy George Carrillo as Officer of the Quarter.

The Officer of the Quarter award was presented to Deputy Carillo at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors Meeting, in appreciation of his service, professional attitude and assistance to the County Attorney’s Office.

Chambers Named State Bar First VP

Deputy Gila County Attorney Bryan Chambers has been elected to serve as First Vice President of the State Bar of Arizona. Chambers was elected June 18 at the annual meeting of the State Bar.

As first vice president Chambers will automatically become president elect in 2014-15 and then state bar president in 2015-16. It is believed that he will be the first attorney from Gila County to serve as state bar president.

Chambers has been with the County Attorney’s Office for nearly 21 years and has served under five different County Attorneys.

Officer of the Quarter

The Giila County Attorney’s Office has named Payson Police Sergeant Jason Hazelo as the Officer of the Quarter.

The award was presented to Sgt. Hazelo at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting in appreciation of his service, professional attitude, and assistance to the County Attorney’s Office.

Open Meeting Law Class

The Gila County Attorney’s Office is presenting an Open Meeting Law class for  the public tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

The two hour class will be held in the Supervisors’ Hearing Room at the Gila County Courthouse tonight from 7 to 9:pm and tomorrow from 9 to 11:am.

If you would like to attend, call 402-8841.

These classes are especially helpful  for those who serve or who may in the future serve on a public board.

Jury Finds Driver Guilty of Felony DUI-Drugs

Last week a Gila County jury found 36 year old Maricopa County resident Christina Brown guilty on felony counts of aggravated DUI and driving under the influence of drugs.

On March 15. 2010, Brown drove her vehicle on Highway 87 south of Payson while under the influence of methamphetamine and while a passenger under the age of 15 was a passenger in the car.

Brown is scheduled to be sentenced in Gila County Superior Court on October 22. She is facing a potential sentence of more than two and a half years in prison in addition to significant fines and restrictions.

New Mexico Resident Found Guilty in Globe of Transportation of Drugs For Sale

On August 31 a Gila County jury found New Mexico resident Sammy Lee Mitchell guilty of 5 counts, including transportation of dangerous drugs for sale.

The jury heard that on February 28,  Mitchell was stopped  on US 60 near Globe. Five pounds of methamphetamine were found in his spare tire. The potential street value of the drugs is $180,000 to $360,000, depending on the ultimate location of the sale.

Mitchell will be sentenced on September 21 in Globe. He faces a sentence of five to ten years.

Truck Driver Convicted of Transporting Marijuana

Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores announces that on Tuesday,  49 year old Clifton Epps of Jackson, Mississippi, was found guilty of transporting marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Epps was a commercial truck driver and his truck crashed while going through the Salt River Canyon on US 60. Department of Public Safety officers located 83 pounds of marijuana that had been removed from the truck and placed on the other side of the concrete barrier wall.

Epps will be sentenced in Globe on September 17 by Judge Robert Duber. He faces a sentence of three to 12 ½  years for transporting marijuana for sale.

Detective Mike Varga is Officer of the Quarter

The Gila County Attorney’s Office has named Payson Police Detective Mike Varga the Officer of the Quarter. The award was presented to Detective Varga at this week’s Gila County Board of Supervisors meeting, in appreciation of his service, professional attitude and assistance to the County Attorney’s Office.

Gov. Brewer Reappoints Flores to ACRAB

Governor Jan Brewer has reappointed Gila County Attorney Daisy Flores to the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board and to the Arizona Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement.

Flores was originally appointed to the Arizona Civil Roghts Advisory Board by former Governor Janet Naopolitano in 2007. She has served for over 5 years and is the former chair of the DUI Abatement Council.