KINGMAN – A judge has rejected a defense bid for acquittal and imposed a mammoth prison term for a Lake Havasu City man who was convicted of sex offenses at trial. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen ordered a 120-year prison term for Steve Elizondo during a February 14 sentencing hearing in Kingman.
A 12-member jury deliberated nearly seven hours before finding Elizondo guilty of two counts of continuous sexual abuse of two girls under the age of 14 when trial concluded January 9.
Public defender Paul Amann argued Judge Jantzen should overturn the verdicts. He said leading questions posed by a Lake Havasu City police detective helped the girls fabricate allegations against an innocent man.
Jantzen said it was clear that both victims struggled with answering questions during the trial. But he said their testimony was credible and that jury determinations are paramount.
“The jury believed the victims,” Jantzen said. “I believe them too.”
Deputy Mohave County Attorney Amanda Claerhout the victims endured sexual abuse from 2017-2024.
“These girls have gone through horrendous things,” the prosecutor said. “This is something that will live with them forever.”
Jantzen noted that he is not bothered by imposing what he called “Draconian” punishment mandated by statute, and what Amann called a “death by incarceration” sentence.
“Whatever I give him, it won’t be enough,” Jantzen said.
Dave Hawkins
