KINGMAN – A former Lake Havasu City firefighter ducked behind a column and his attorney before taking a secondary route to avoid being photographed from the front outside the main entrance following his September 29 arraignment at the Mohave County Law and Justice Center in downtown Kingman. Not guilty pleas were entered on behalf of Richard Kelm, 48, who faces 10 sexual exploitation of a minor charges in a second criminal prosecution.
“Your Honor, we’re going to enter a not guilty plea at this time,” defense attorney Richard Brown told Judge Billy Sipe.
The court informed Kelm that each of the 10 counts is punishable by 10 to 24 years in prison and that counts for any such conviction must be served consecutive to one another. Judge Sipe also noted that sexual exploitation convictions require the defendant to serve flat time, day for day rather than any percentage of the sentence.
Kelm’s indictment in the second case is a byproduct of his first. He was originally arrested on June 26 for prostitution, pandering, drug possession and fraud.
Two young women and a witness told Lake Havasu City police investigators that Kelm paid the women with various illegal drugs and money in exchange for sexual activity. Investigation in the first case led to discovery of digital evidence that Kelm allegedly possessed child pornography material.
Judge Sipe scheduled an October 14 pretrial conference for Kelm on both cases.
