Change-of-plea continuance granted in McMullin case
A Yuma County Superior Court judge on Tuesday granted a defense request for a continuance in a change-of-plea hearing for the man accused of robbing a Foothills truck stop with a knife.
When asked the reason for the continuance, attorney Cynthia Brubaker, of the Yuma County Public Defenders Office, explained that she and the prosecutor assigned to the case are still working on finalizing the terms of a plea agreement. She added that the prosecutor will also be out of town all next week.
Brubaker represents Jimmy McMullin, who has been charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault, both of which are felonies. He has also undergone a mental competency evaluation and deemed competent to stand trial.
At McMullin’s previous hearing in Sept. Brubaker informed the court that the plea offer being offered in the case stipulates that her client be sentenced to a term of incarceration at the Arizona State Mental Hospital.
After hearing from both counsel Superior Court Judge Brandon Kinsey, who is presiding over the case, granted Brubaker’s request and rescheduled the change-of-plea hearing for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 19.
McMullin, who was on probation at the time he allegedly committed the armed robbery, also has two other cases pending against him, one of which is a probation violation.
According to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Flying J Travel Plaza at 10800 N. Frontage Road at about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 18, 2018, after a report of an armed robbery.
Upon arrival, deputies learned that an unknown male suspect — wearing all black clothing and armed with a large knife — entered the store, jumped over the counter, displayed the knife to the cashier, and demanded money.
The suspect, later identified as McMullin, then fled the business with an undisclosed amount of money.
During their investigation, detectives located evidence that led them to a home in the 10700 block of South Amber Drive, where McMullin was taken into custody without incident.
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.