Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - After a valiant effort, alas the Nassau West Attorney General's Office had to watch in complete disgust as Nassau West President Kelly K. Bartram approached the bench of Bisbee Justice Court Judge David C. Morales to plead guilty to one count of disorderly conduct.

This event was the culmination of a chain of events set in motion in February in the City of Tombstone. Bartram was walking about town with Nassau West Ambassador Carey Granger, and trouble ensued. Both were accused of seven counts of disorderly conduct, which in Arizona, is a class 1 misdemeanor.

These counts carry a maximum fine of $2,500 and six months in jail - each. As it turned out, both Bartram and Granger plead guilty in a plea agreement to one count each of disorderly conduct. Both received identical sentences of $540 fines, and 48 hours in jail, which is suspended for six month.

Assuming that neither of them have any further problems conducting themselves in town for at least six months, then neither of them will do any jail time. The fines, however, (cha-ching!) must be paid regardless.

The defendants opted to take the plea agreement rather than risking an even worse sentencing if a guilty verdict were handed down after an expensive trial. The lawyer that represented the two, Patrick K. Greene, of Tombstone, said he believed he could beat the charges, but the cost would be $1,200 from each defendant.

In the end, it wasn't economically feasible to continue with the defense of these charges. So now, after 32 years, Nassau West President Kelly K. Bartram has a criminal record.