Category: Court News

The last of three defendants convicted of smuggling illegal drugs into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center in Kingman was given more prison time Wednesday. Ryan Acosta, 29, Bullhead City, was ordered to spend ten more years behind bars, once his current prison term for unrelated convictions expires in 2027. Punishment imposed by Judge Billy Sipe was the maximum possible under terms of a plea agreement convicting Acosta of conspiracy of promoting prison contraband. Judge Sipe noted Acosta’s extensive criminal history involving more than a half dozen felony convictions in California and Mohave County. Sipe said corrections officers have difficult…

The body of a murder victim has been recovered following a Friday tip that an unreported homicide occurred in April at a home in the 4500 block of Glen Road in north Kingman.  Mohave County Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said a search located a 55-gallon drum that concealed the body and was buried in a shallow grave on the backyard of the property. The suspected victim’s daughter Carrie Vanover, 23, and Mark Baldonado, 31, both of Kingman, admitted their involvement in the murder, according to Mohave County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen. She said the victim is believed to…

A Lake Havasu City man facing a possible prison term for drug convictions walked free from the Mohave Courthouse on July 11. Judge Billy Sipe decided not to order prison or further jail time for Christopher Blanker, 28. Blanker would have faced mandatory prison had the trial jury found him guilty of possessing methamphetamine and heroin for sale. The panel, however, rejected the sales allegation and found Blanker guilty of simple possession of both drugs. Blanker was also found guilty of possessing marijuana for sale, possessing oxycodone and for possessing paraphernalia associated with use of heroin, meth and marijuana. The…

A Lake Havasu City woman expressed bewilderment at her July 10 sentencing hearing in Kingman. 58-year-old Donna Richter told the Court that she felt more like a victim than a defendant. The retired registered nurse previously pleaded guilty to taking the identity of another in a deal dismissing six forgery counts and two theft charges. Her attorney Adam Cirzan explained Richter agreed to house sit and pay bills for a Lake Havasu man who had to do jail time in an assault case. Cirzan said Richter did as she was instructed, though she engaged in some excessive spending. “She admits…

A ten year prison term is mandated in a plea agreement entered for an alleged Bullhead City drug dealer. The deal resolves three methamphetamine cases against Kevin Goc, 51. One case involving a ten gram seizure during a traffic stop is dismissed in the plea agreement that was detailed during a July 8 hearing in Kingman. Goc pleaded guilty in each of the other cases to a reduced charge of attempted possession of dangerous drugs for sale. A 3.5-year prison term will result from seizure of five grams of methamphetamine, more than $400 in cash, a hand gun, and drug…

A 15-year prison term was imposed Friday for one of three Kingman men charged with breaking into homes and businesses to steal things. Authorities have alleged the suspects wore dark clothes, masks and body armor and were armed as their crime spree stretched from Kingman to Golden Valley and from Valle Vista to Meadview. In some instances home occupants or business employees were secured with zip ties, resulting in kidnapping charges for their restricted movement. Prosecutor Rod Albright said that Preston Milks, 26, is the least culpable of the trio. Milks pleaded guilty to three aggravated assault charges while 23…