Former Fire Chief Plea Bargains From Felonies to Misdemeanors

THE FORMER COLORADO CITY, ARIZONA, FIRE CHIEF Jacob Barlow was sentenced Friday following a complicated plea-bargain settlement with the Mohave County Attorney's office.  Barlow was indicted along with the now-former town manager 18 months ago for misuse of public funds.  At the time, Firegeezer reported:

FIRE CHIEF JACOB BARLOW OF THE COLORADO CITY / HILDALE Fire Department in Arizona was arrested Tuesday on an indictment issued August 4 charging him with 27 counts of violating the duties as custodian of public funds, two counts of participating in a criminal syndicate and one count of assisting in a criminal syndicate. Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, are twin cities that straddle the border and are infamous for being the settlement for a religious cult that openly practices polygamy. The community has been in the news constantly over the past several years, most recently when the cult's leader, Warren Jeffs was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for child rape connected with the cult's practices.

Law officers from both states jointly raided the FD in 2011 after a lengthy investigation that began in 2010.  Read the full Firegeezer report HERE.

Fire Station 3  (News-Herald)

In Friday's court appearance Barlow pleaded guilty to reduced charges of "solicitation of misuse of public money" and conditional probation.  His co-hort in the crimes, former town manager David Darger who also served as the fire district's secretary/treasurer, is still bargaining with the prosecutor.

The Kingman (Arizona) Daily Miner reports today:

As part of the plea agreement, Barlow will be sentenced to probation and required to pay $5,000 to the Mohave County Attorney's Office and $2,000 to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office to cover the costs of the investigation and prosecution. Jail time remains a possibility as well.  All other charges against Barlow have been dismissed as part of the agreement.

If Barlow can successfully complete his probation, the two counts will be lowered to misdemeanors, but until then they will be considered felonies, said Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn.

If Barlow is unable to meet the terms of his probation, he could face two years apiece for the felony convictions.

Read the full story in The Daily Miner HERE.

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