BULLHEAD CITY – A Bullhead City drug dealer’s plea for probation was rejected when Judge Billy Sipe instead ordered a 5-year prison term last Thursday (Aug 26). It was the maximum punishment possible under terms of the plea agreement entered for Matthew Brown, 27.
Brown pleaded guilty to attempted possession of dangerous drugs for sale and misconduct involving weapons for prohibited possession. Brown told Judge Sipe he was hoping for probation to spend time with a young daughter who has come back into his life.
Prosecutor Bob Moon questioned Brown’s ability to comply with terms of probation. Moon told Sipe that Brown went to prison when probation was revoked following a 2014 marijuana sales related conviction.
Moon said Brown admitting selling quarter pounds of meth each week following his April 15, 2020 arrest while possessing 63 grams of methamphetamine. Judge Sipe said Brown also admitted selling meth and heroin to about 25 people to generate some $1,500 in weekly profit.
Sipe said Brown’s failure to report to probation and to show up for his first sentencing hearing in the current case are indicators that he deserves prison rather than another chance at probation.
Dave Hawkins