Lake Havasu City Motel Robbery Suspect Strikes Plea Deal, Dodges Prison Time

The first of four individuals charged in connection with a Lake Havasu City motel invasion and robbery has secured a plea agreement, allowing him to avoid a prison sentence contingent on his compliance with probation conditions.

Zachary Holmes, 25, of Kingman, was convicted of armed robbery as part of the plea deal presented on Friday, July 19, before Judge Billy Sipe. Under this agreement, charges of burglary and aggravated assault against Holmes were dismissed in exchange for supervised probation, which will be formally imposed at a sentencing hearing on August 15.

Holmes, who has been held at the Adult Detention Center in Kingman for nearly three months, will be released from custody on the same day as the sentencing hearing.

Holmes’ co-defendants, Elizabeth Janca, 32, of Lake Havasu, Caleb Crandall, 27, of Kingman, and Beau Newbiggin, 29, a transient, are still awaiting trial. Deputy Mohave County Attorney Jeff Haws explained that Janca had stayed overnight with the 40-year-old victim at the Studio 6 Suites located at 1330 McCulloch Boulevard and allowed her three male accomplices into the room on the morning of May 23.

According to Haws, the men brandished firearms and simulated weapons at the victim, stealing his wallet, various personal items, and his vehicle keys before making their escape in the victim’s car. The fleeing suspects were pursued by the victim, who managed to damage the vehicle by breaking a window with rocks.

Police apprehended one suspect on Swanson Avenue and located the remaining suspects in the downtown area of McCulloch Boulevard. Haws indicated that Holmes had been misled into participating in the crime, being told it was a retaliatory act because the victim had allegedly sexually abused a woman.

Holmes was armed with a BB gun during the invasion.