Plea offer contemplated for arson suspect
A Yuma County Superior Court judge on Wednesday continued a hearing for one of the three suspects charged in connection to the January arson fire at an under-construction apartment complex. The hearing was in order to give prosecutors more time to decide whether to offer a plea agreement.
Prosecutor Megan Gallagher, of the Yuma County Attorney’s Office, provided the court with an update on the status of the case against 25-year-old James Mee and explained that she would not be opposed to a continuance.
Gallagher said she is contemplating offering a plea agreement that would resolve both felony cases against Mee. Having some additional time to make that decision would be helpful, she said.
She further stated that delaying the hearing would give her time to write a plea, if she decides to offer one, notify the victims in the case, and give the defense attorneys representing Mee time to discuss it with their client.
Mee, who is being represented by attorney Joe Terranova in the arson case has been charged with 13 felony counts of arson of an occupied structure and 19 felony counts of arson of a structure and one count of conspiracy — arson of a structure.
He has also been charged with intentionally organizing, managing and directing a gang, and one count of possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, all of which are felonies.
Other charges Mee faces in relation to the case include four misdemeanor counts of arson of a structure and a civil offense of aggravated criminal damage. He remains in custody on a $350,000 cash-only bond.
Attorney Richard Edgar, who represents Mee on a second unrelated case, added that it was his understanding that if a plea agreement is offered, it would resolve both of the cases.
In that case Mee has been charged with felony counts of possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, possession of marijuana for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia. For this case bail was set as a $5,000 cashonly bond.
After listening to both counsel, Superior Court Judge Brandon Kinsey, who is presiding over the case, granted the prosecutor’s request and rescheduled Mee’s next hearing for 8:30 a.m. on August 28.
Also charged in the case are 18-year-old Trayvon Johnson and 18-year-old Daniel Molina. A 16-yearold boy and a 17-year-old boy have also been arrested. Another suspect, 18-yearold Devon Munson has not yet been located, according to Yuma police.
According to Yuma police, the fire broke out just before 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 29 at the Mesa Heights apartment complex, which is under construction in the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue. Nearby residents were evacuated.
Over 20 properties were damaged and six buildings were totally destroyed, including an apartment building and five homes. Six other vehicles or structures sustained significant damage, and there were 15 other small yard and debris fires, one of which burned a carport screen.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook. com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @ YSJamesGilbert.