Indicted sex offenders must appear
 
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Tri-State News Network
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The Colorado City men indicted on charges of sexual misconduct with minors must appear, in person, at their arraignments next month, according to Superior Court Judge Steve Conn.

KINGMAN, Ariz. – A Flagstaff defense attorney representing eight Colorado City men, charged with sex offenses involving their ceremonial alleged child brides, was thwarted in his attempt to handle their arraignments by mail. The three Mohave County Superior Court Judges handling the various cases continued the arraignments that were scheduled Monday.

Lawyer Bruce Griffen mailed notices to Kingman attempting to enter not guilty pleas while waiving the defendant's rights to be present for the legal proceeding. Arraignments by mail are conducted occasionally on the local level, but Superior Court Judge Steve Conn said Rule 14 prohibits the procedure in this instance.

Conn's ruling hinged on the fact that the three defendants assigned to his court had not yet made initial appearances before a judge. He said arraignments by mail are not allowed without the defendants having had an initial appearance.

"They cannot do an arraignment by mail," Judge Conn said. "The defendants have to appear in person to be arraigned."

The men’s surprise surrender and a courtesy afforded by Mohave County Superior attorney Matt Smith explains why the defendants did not have their initial court appearances in the first place. Law enforcement authorities had no luck in locating the men to serve them legal papers following their indictment by separate Grand Juries.

With no advance notice, Griffen and the defendants arrived in Kingman to turn themselves in July 18. Smith allowed the men to be fingerprinted and photographed at the county jail, make bond arrangements and leave town without making initial court appearances.

Now their initial appearances and arraignments will be combined at the same time in Superior Court in Kingman. County Attorney Matt Smith’s office provided the following schedule: Vergel Jessop - Arraignment 8/1/2005 @ 8:30 am in Div. 3 / Judge Conn.  Donald Barlow - Arraignment 8/1/2005 @ 8:30 am in Div. 3 / Judge Conn.  Kelly Fischer - Arraignment 8/1/2005 @ 8:30 am in Div. 3 / Judge Conn.  David Bateman - Case Management Hearing 8/5/2005 @ 9:30 am in Div. 4 / Judge Chavez.  Dale Barlow - Case Management hearing 8/15/2005 @ 9:30 am in Div. 6 / Judge Weiss.
 
Tri-State News Network
Originally published Wednesday July 27, 2005
 
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