Category: Court News

A Tuesday shootout in Golden Valley that sent two men to the hospital remains under investigation by the Mohave County Sheriff’s office. Officers responded in force at 2:47 p.m. to a report that at least one man had been shot in the 4200 block of N. Estrella Rd. “Deputies and detectives located the first male subject and observed the gunshot wound,” said sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen. “A sweep of the property was conducted and the second male subject was located and was also found to have a gunshot wound.” Mortensen said both men were transported to Kingman Regional Medical…

What began as a routine traffic stop evolved into a skirmish when sheriff’s deputies tried to take the driver into custody last Friday in the north Mohave County community of Cane Beds. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said the incident began at about 10:30 a.m. when deputies noticed a vehicle with a faulty brake light committing traffic violations. Deputies pulled over the vehicle on highway 389, recognizing its driver as Ezra Barlow, knowing the 36 year old Colorado City resident to be named in an arrest warrant. “Deputies observed Barlow was gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were…

An inmate serving prison time for drug convictions will spend more time behind bars after pleading guilty to possessing dangerous drugs for sale while housed in the state prison facility in Golden Valley. A 2023 release date had been in effect for Joseph Valdez, 46, who is serving a nine year sentence for Maricopa County drug convictions. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert, however, imposed another seven year sentence July 23 that will run consecutive to Valdez’ nine year hitch. Lambert said using and selling drugs in a prison facility is dangerous for inmates and guards alike. Prosecutor Megan…

A second judge has rejected a plea agreement mandating a 3.5-year prison term for a Bullhead City man who is charged in separate assault cases. The case involving 26-year-old Luis Romero was reassigned to Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert after Judge Billy Sipe rejected the proposed deal on July 2. Like Sipe, Lambert found the punishment to be too lenient when he refused to accept the same plea agreement during a July 23 hearing in Kingman. Prosecutor Karolina Czaplinska said she was dropping the case involving an assault that left Romero’s girlfriend with blackened and swollen eyes because…

A Lake Havasu City man faces mandatory prison time after entering a plea agreement that resolves three drug cases. A mix of charges is dismissed in the deal for Michael-Shawn Boultinghouse, 37. During a July 17 change of plea hearing in Kingman, Boultinghouse pleaded guilty to possession of narcotic drugs for a December 16, 2018 incident at 3101 London Bridge Road. Prosecutor Amanda Claerhout said police found a zipper pouch that contained burned foil with heroin residue. Boultinghouse also pleaded guilty to sale of narcotic drugs for a February, 2019 incident at his home in the 2100 block of Barranca…