Bullhead Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Charge

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Willard Paul Farrell, III, age 25, of Bullhead, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on January 2, 2013, and pled guilty to one count of an indictment that charged him with Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, resulting in
substantial bodily injury. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a period of supervised release of 3 years.

The conviction stems from an incident on January 15, 2011, when the victim was walking in McLaughlin. Farrell ran up to her, unprovoked, and assaulted her on a public street. Over the course of the assault, Farrell hit, shoved, and kneed the victim in the face, resulting in the victim receiving numerous scrapes and bruises, along with a fractured cheekbone. At the time of the incident, the victim had a restraining order in place preventing Farrell from having contact with, or harassing her.

Farrell has been found guilty on two or more separate prior occasions for offenses that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, an assault against a spouse and intimate partner.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 29, 2013. Farrell was remanded to the U.S. Marshal's Service pending sentencing.