LAKE HAVASU — A Lake Havasu City man charged with kidnapping his kids from their mother last November expressed regret and remorse during his July 10 sentencing hearing in Kingman.
“I ask everyone to accept my sincere apology,” said Kevin Walton. “I made some bad choices. I take responsibility for everything I did.”
There is no dispute that Walton, 40, argued with his near decade-long partner before he took his two children, without permission, from a residence in the 3800 block of Bear Drive. He drove to California where he left the kids with family.
“No harm came to the kids,” said defense attorney Christopher Stafford. He noted Walton enjoys strong family support and is committed to bettering himself to provide for his family.
Deputy Mohave County attorney Amanda Claerhout told the Court that issues and arguments between the couple prompted five police reports from last August into November. She said during that time period police dispatchers fielded 17 911 calls related to their domestic disputes.
Claerhout said Walton threatened the woman on multiple occasions. “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill the kids” was the general theme of Walton’s verbal hostility, she said.
Claerhout told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle that the woman was very scared and concerned about safety following the child snatching incident. But, she noted the woman backpedaled over several months, softening her position before deciding to support Walton.
Claerhout said the state’s case was substantially weakened when she reversed her victim status in favor of becoming an advocate for the defendant.
Contradicting Claerhout, the woman told Judge Carlisle that Walton never threatened to kill their kids. She said the family needs Walton to be free to make sure their struggling business survives.
The woman said she and Walton enjoyed mostly a positive relationship for more than nine years before last summer. “It soured a little bit and was pretty volatile,” she said.
The woman indicated her infidelity was a factor in a conflict she wants to put behind them.
“Kevin is a good father, partner and provider,” she said.
Judge Carlisle questioned the case being charged as a kidnapping, asserting it appears more to be in the domestic violence arena. Walton is convicted of custodial interference through a plea agreement.
Carlisle imposed a 33 day jail sentence, crediting Walton with already serving those 33 days in custody. He placed Walton on probation for three years.
