KINGMAN – A plea agreement is wrapping up prosecution in the case against a former Lake Havasu City businessman accused of cheating customers out of their share of boat sale proceeds. 48-year-old Tim McDonald pleaded guilty to an attempted fraudulent schemes and artifaces charge during a June 11 hearing in Kingman.
A Mohave County Superior Court jury convicted McDonald of one theft charge and acquitted him of another at the end of a February trial. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on another fraud charge and 13 counts of theft.
The plea agreement resolves those remaining charges, dismissing the theft counts while convicting on the attempted fraud count. Deputy Mohave County attorney James Schoppmann said McDonald could get as little as probation and no jail or up to 4.5 years in prison under terms of the agreement.
The plea deal also requires McDonald to pay restitution totaling more than $915,000.
Schoppmann argued at trial that McDonald’s Offshore Custom Marine boat consignment business was supposed to keep a ten percent commission for selling watercraft. Schoppmann said McDonald, however, swindled more than $240,000 from more than one dozen customers.
Defense attorney Mark Mendoza countered that McDonald never intended to steal from anyone. Mendoza said McDonald used the boat sale proceeds in a failed bid to keep his struggling enterprise in business.
Judge Billy Sipe scheduled a July 16 sentencing hearing.
- Dave Hawkins
