LAKE HAVASU CITY – His extensive criminal history was key in a judicial determination that prison rather than probation is appropriate punishment in a Lake Havasu City man’s drug case. Robert Gould, 32, resolved the matter short of trial by entering a plea agreement convicting him of a reduced charge of possession of narcotic drugs for sale.

Gould admitted exchanging three grams of heroin for $200 from a confidential informant at a residence in the 3900 block of Albacore Drive last July. The plea deal dismissed possession for sale and drug paraphernalia charge.

“Robert has an addiction problem,” his mother advised Mohave County Superior Court judge Rick Lambert during a May 3 sentencing hearing. “I feel that he would be better served in a rehab facility rather than prison or jail.”

The woman told the Court that she and her husband are supportive of Gould and have plenty of work and lodging available for him to help him through probation. “We have plenty for him to do at our ranch to keep him busy and out of trouble,” she said.

Judge Lambert said probation was not an option for multiple reasons. He said he was concerned about the quantity of drugs involved in the case as Gould was originally charged with two sales totaling more than seven grams of heroin.

Lambert said Gould has three prior felony and three prior misdemeanor convictions and was deemed a high risk to re-offend, and a poor candidate for probation. The Judge imposed a 2.5-year prison term.

Dave Hawkins