MOHAVE COUNTY — A Fort Mohave man has entered a plea agreement convicting him of crimes committed in Lake Havasu City and Kingman. Justin Katoa, 33, is eligible for supervised probation but could also get as many as 12 years in prison when sentenced next month.
Justin Katoa, 33, pleaded guilty to theft of a credit card and aggravated driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol for the mid-March, 2024 incident at a restaurant in Lake Havasu City. Police responded at 3:00 a.m. after traffic backed up in the drive through lane of the eatery after Katoa apparently passed out in his vehicle.
A police report indicated that officers located about a gram of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a total of five identifications or credit cards that didn’t belong to him. It also said that Katoa’s drivers license was suspended at the time.
Aggravated taking the identification of another, possession of dangerous drugs and other charges are dismissed in the Lake Havasu case.
Katoa was arrested again on August 9 in Kingman. Deputy Mohave County attorney James Gilmore said the defendant possessed 11 different credit cards or other pieces of identification.
Deputy Kingman police chief Joel Freed said investigation revealed that Katoa has used the cards at several hotels in the tri-state area and a number of pieces of mail that were not his.
Katoa pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card and attempted aggravated taking the identification of another in the Kingman case.
Sentencing is scheduled November 6 before the Honorable Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle.
