More than 22 years ago, Adam Edward Gardner was indicted in Cochise County for his alleged involvement in trafficking a large quantity of marijuana. But his case from 2000 has never gone to trial.
In fact, there is no record in the court file that Gardner was even aware of the four felony charges in the indictment, including one count of weapons misconduct. That all changed earlier this year.
On Jan. 2, Gardner came into contact with a Mohave County Sheriff’s Office during a sweep for expired camping permits on BLM land near Lake Havasu City. Gardner, who was noted as a transient in the area, was arrested after a Mohave County deputy confirmed the validity of the old 2000 warrant.
Public records from Mohave County show Gardner was released from custody on Jan. 5 after posting a $10,000 bond set in the Cochise County case more than two decades ago. His arrest, however, resulted in the old court file being pulled off the shelves and an arraignment being set for May 2 in Bisbee.
When Gardner failed to show up in court, Judge Timothy Dickerson of the Cochise County Superior Court ordered a new warrant, this one with a bond requirement of $50,000. And unlike the original warrant, the new one is valid nationwide.
Which is necessary, the Cochise County Attorney’s Office told Dickerson, because Gardner provided the Mohave County deputy a Colorado address at the time of his arrest in January.
The court file in Gardner’s case will once again return to the file room, at least until another arrest is made.
