LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – A warrant for her arrest was issued when a Lake Havasu City woman failed to appear at her mandatory prison sentencing hearing on Oct. 1. Kathleen Orness, 39, faced a three- to five-year prison term through a plea agreement that convicts her of possession of narcotic drugs for sale.
More than 13 grams of fentanyl were found and confiscated from her person when Orness was searched at the Lake Havasu City Police Department jail. She reportedly possessed a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia when contacted as a passenger following a Feb. 11 traffic stop at a gas station in the 2600 block of Sweetwater Avenue.
Asked why his client wasn’t present for sentencing, defense attorney Brad Rideout informed the court that his client has heart issues and indicated she was in the hospital. He requested a continuance of the status hearing so that he could collect any documents proving her hospitalization.
Judge Ryan Esplin instead issued a bench warrant, ordering that Orness be held without bond, once in custody.
