Category: Court News

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…

His attorney and his father informed the Court Monday that a Bullhead City man’s health challenges and his inability to work led Joseph McClinton to spend his time on the internet where he committed child pornography offenses. It mattered little as a law that defense attorney Robin Puchek called “Draconian” required Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert to send McClinton to prison for at least one century. Homeland Security agents who detected suspicious computer activity were assisted by Bullhead City police during a February 1, 2017 search of McClinton’s home in the 4300 block of La Mesa Road. Forensic…