EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR – MOHAVE VALLEY

Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have arrested Joseph Dewayne Chipman, 40, of Mohave Valley, on five counts of Luring Minor for Sexual Exploitation and two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, all felonies. Detectives were notified that messages had been located on a 15-year-old female’s phone that were sexual in nature. An investigation revealed that Chipman had been engaging in sexual conversations with the minor and had paid the victim to send nude photographs. A search warrant was executed at Chipman’s residence in the 10000 block of Copper Ln. on Tuesday, July 1. At the conclusion of the search, Chipman was arrested and booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility in Kingman. The investigation is ongoing.

DEATH INVESTIGATION – INTERSTATE 40 & FRANCONIA RD (NORTH OF LAKE HAVASU CITY)

Detectives are investigating the case of Carolyn Bennett, 62, of Lake Havasu City, whose vehicle was found on Thursday, July 3 in a remote area near Interstate 40 and Franconia Rd. Bennett was last seen on June 16 and reported missing on June 30. The vehicle had become disabled, and she was found deceased inside. There was no evidence of food or water within the vehicle. While no obvious signs of foul play were discovered during the initial investigation, the decedent was transported to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death. This investigation is ongoing.

HOMICIDE – MEADVIEW

On Thursday, July 3, Deputies responded to a residence in the 26000 block of N. Driftwood Dr. in Meadview following a report of an aggravated assault. The reporting party indicated that a male subject had been stabbed and that the suspect had fled. Upon arrival, deputies observed that the victim had multiple stab wounds and was pronounced deceased by responding medical staff. The victim was identified as Kodey Sean Wheeler, 36, of Meadview. Investigations revealed that during an altercation between Wheeler and the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Fred Dodge, Dodge stabbed Wheeler multiple times before fleeing the scene. Detectives tracked Dodge to a Nevada motel, and on Monday, July 7, he was taken into custody. Dodge is charged with 2nd Degree Murder and will be extradited back to Mohave County. Additionally, Dodge was wanted by Nevada authorities for an unrelated homicide. This investigation is ongoing.

HOMICIDE – TOPOCK

On Saturday, July 5, Deputies responded to a residence in the 5400 block of E. Nogales Dr. in Topock following reports of gunshots in the area. A second report indicated that someone had been shot. Deputies detained the suspect, identified as Quintin Antonio Vesga, 27, of Las Vegas. While being detained, an injury was observed on Vesga’s left hand. Deputies entered the residence and found the deceased victim, identified as Dennis Wayne Morris, 67, of Topock. Investigations revealed that Vesga had been consuming illegal drugs and alcohol on the evening of July 4. Believing he was having a nightmare, Vesga obtained a firearm and shot himself in the hand before beginning to fire inside the residence, ultimately shooting the victim several times. Vesga was taken into custody on a charge of 2nd Degree Murder and was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of his injuries. Upon his release, Vesga will be booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility in Kingman. This investigation is ongoing.