LAKE HAVASU CITY — Defense attorney Marcus Spradlin says substance abuse issues are the root of his client’s criminal activity, including the occasion when he went to sleep or passed out in the drive thru lane of an eatery in Lake Havasu City.
Spradlin asked that Justin Katoa, 34, Fort Mohave, be placed on probation during his November Thursday 6 sentencing hearing in Kingman. Prosecutor Rod Albright countered that prison is appropriate given the number of charges and victims involved in crimes committed by the defendant.
“I take full responsibility for everything I’ve done. I do want to change my life and get back on track,” Katoa told Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle. He said he’s committed to sobriety no matter the punishment.
“The state is not confident that the defendant will succeed on probation,” Albright said.
Katoa previously pleaded guilty to theft of a credit card and driving under the influence of drugs for the mid-March, 2024 incident that drew a police response after traffic backed up at the Lake Havasu food outlet. A police report indicated officers found about a gram of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and five credit cards that did not belong to him.
Katoa reportedly possessed 11 different credit cards or other pieces of identification during his subsequent August 9 arrest in Kingman. Deputy police Chief Joel Freed said Katoa said investigation determined that Katoa had used the cards for stays at several hotels in the tri-state area and that he was also in possession of numerous pieces of mail that did not belong to him.
Katoa pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card and aggravated taking the identification of another to resolve the Kingman case.
After hearing attorney input as to punishment, judge Derek Carlisle said he wanted to give Katoa a chance at probation, but noted that the law requires prison time for the drugged driving related conviction.
Judge Carlisle ordered a four-month prison term, followed by probation for six years.
