A Bullhead City man charged with murdering his mother balked at a change in his Feb. 2 prosecutorial review. Joseph Houston, 28, was noted to be taking medication to treat symptoms related to depression and epilepsy.
Houston also has mental health issues, but it was previously determined that he was not at the level of a legitimate criminal defense attorney. Houston told Judge Billy Sipe that his attorney, Paul Ammann, explained everything to him and that he understood what happened during the case.
All hell broke loose when Judge Sipe asked for Houston's plea for a reduced charge of second-degree murder.
'I don't know.' That's up to you,'' Houston said. “I do not understand”
Judge Sipe said he could not enter into a plea bargain given the defendant's obvious state of disorder. Mr. Amann expressed his confidence that Houston can resolve this issue and turn confusion into understanding.
Judge Sipe continued the modification of the oral hearing until Thursday, February 8th.
Houston is accused of breaking into her home in the 1300 block of Lincoln Lane last April and bludgeoning her disabled mother, Janice Houston, 55, to death. Houston had also reportedly attacked her mother the day before his death.
— Dave Hawkins, Today's News-Herald special reporter
