Category: Court News

A methamphetamine mule busted while hauling drugs through Mohave County was given a ten year prison sentence on July 10. Manuel Tolano, 42, was also ordered to pay fines, fees and surcharges totaling more than $43,000. The defendant’s mother asked Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle for mercy, saying the family relies upon Tolano. “There’s nothing like a mother’s love for her son but look at his record,” countered Deputy County Attorney Bob Moon. The veteran prosecutor said Tolano’s lengthy legal history is littered with misdemeanor and felony convictions. DPS officers seized 23.5 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle…

Another 33.5 years in prison has been ordered for a Mohave Valley man who was the focus of four jury trials since the spring. Imposition of sentence for 42-year-old Joseph Carter on July 10 came at the end of three hours of legal battle between prosecutor Jaimye Ashley and defense attorney Melissa Barry. “It’s been typical of these cases from the beginning,” said Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert. “It’s just been one difficulty after another.” Wednesday’s sentencing was for drug and weapon convictions associated with a September, 2017 search of Carter’s home at 555 King Way. More than…

A Lake Havasu City man charged in the death of his infant daughter had a pre trial conference hearing in Kingman on July 11. Ty Martin, 23, is charged with second degree murder in May 11 death of the 18-month-old girl. Lake Havasu police said the child was left unattended in the rear seat of Martin’s vehicle for 45 minutes to an hour while Martin was visiting at the home of his friend Noah Grabowski.  A probable cause statement indicated that Martin admitted smoking marijuana and playing video games while the victim was in the vehicle outside Grabowski’s home on Tailstar…

The Mohave County Sheriff’s office has clarified some information regarding a new homicide case. Spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said officers began a surveillance detail after being informed last Friday that a murder occurred at a residence in the 4500 block of Glen Road in north Kingman. The investigation led to execution of a search warrant Wednesday where the body of a victim was located inside a 55 gallon drum that was recovered where buried in the backyard. The residents of that property, Carrie Vanover, 23, and her 31-year-old boyfriend Mark Baldonado, were arrested and booked into jail for first degree murder….

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…