KINGMAN, Ariz. – It took only 35 minutes of deliberation for a Mohave County Superior Court jury to convict the defendant on all counts involving weapons offenses at the Windsor Beach launch ramp in Lake Havasu City. The guilty verdict determinations in the three-day trial were reached just before the lunch hour Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Law and Justice Center in Kingman.
William Wachtveitl, 54, Yucca, was taken into custody and jailed because he faces a mandatory prison sentence for convictions for three counts of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct with a weapon and aggravated driving under the influence.
There was no dispute at trial that Wachtveitl cut in front of other boats that were waiting in their line near shore for their turn to use the launch ramp to exit the lake on Aug. 2, 2025. Prosecutor James Schoppmann said witnesses indicated that Wachtveitl retrieved his pickup truck and was driving erratically in the busy launch ramp parking lot.
The trial lawyers also did not dispute that a passenger in the pickup truck argued in the parking lot with four people from another boat, who exited the lake behind Wachtveitl.
Public Defender Marcus Spradlin said his client retrieved a firearm in an attempt to deescalate the conflict and protect himself, his wife and others in his boating party. Spradlin also conceded that Wachtveitl fired rounds in the air back toward the lake.
No one was hurt in the incident.
Schoppmann said Wachtveitl first pointed the weapon at three victims, before firing the rounds. He said that the defendant was amped up on alcohol and drugs and was not at all acting in self-defense.
“Cocaine, alcohol, agitation and aggression,” Schoppmann told the jury in his closing argument. “Preposterous, unreasonable, unjustifiably dangerous behavior.”
Schoppmann told the jury that the defendant’s trial testimony was inconsistent and unreliable.
“This man, his actions made a mockery of self-defense,” Schoppmann said. “It’s a mockery of responsible gun ownership.”
Schoppmann said Wachtveitl faces a five- to 22.5-year prison term. Judge Carlisle scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17.
