LAKE HAVASU CITY — A Lake Havasu City man charged in a violent domestic disturbance incident has entered a plea agreement that spares him from prison but subjects him to possible jail time. Joseph Dorman, 59, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge reduced to attempted aggravated assault.
The plea deal dismisses simple assault and threatening and intimidating charges arising from the April 8 occurrence in the 3500 block of Desert Garden Drive where the woman reportedly retreated into a bedroom and called the police department.
Deputy Mohave County attorney James Gilmore and police says escalation of a verbal argument turned physical. A police report indicates that Dorman told responding officers that no encounter occurred, but that the woman painted a different picture after exiting the home.
The woman told police that Dorman choked her with his hands around her neck, threatened her life and punched her. Gilmore provided the same scenario for the factual basis of the plea agreement entered before Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen.
The police report narrative said that officers listening to an audio recording provided by the victim reportedly heard the defendant threaten to kill her on multiple occasions.
“I’m going to put a bullet in your head,” he said, according to the police report. “I’ve had enough of you.”
Plea deal terms require Judge Jantzen to place Dorman on supervised probation at a September 23 sentencing hearing. While prison is off the table, Jantzen can also order up to one year in the county jail.
Dave Hawkins
