Mojave County prosecutors are seeking restitution for the shooting death of 19-year-old Damon Petetan of Lake Havasu City following a conviction last month.
Prosecutors have charged 19-year-old Carter R. Beckwith with a first-degree murder charge in 2021 for shooting. Beckwith was convicted of manslaughter last month and sentenced to 10.5 years in prison. to order $3,195 in compensation to the victims’ families and $10,224 to the Arizona Victims Compensation Fund.
A future hearing could be scheduled if Beckwith challenges Friday’s motion, according to court records.
Beckwith remains in custody at the Mojave County Jail as of this weekend, awaiting further trial in the Mojave Superior Court on separate charges including felony theft and aggravated assault on a facility detainee.
Attorney Jamie Ashley of Kingman-based Ashley & McPhillips Law Firm filed Beckwith’s notice of appeal on March 21 in connection with the manslaughter conviction.
Beckwith’s case began on July 10, 2021, after City of Lake Havasu police officers were called to a shooting at Block 2300 on Alpine Avenue. According to court records, Beckwith allegedly shot Petetan in the backyard of his mansion before fleeing the scene.
Investigators say Beckwith may have attempted to flee to California after the shooting, but stopped in the town of Parker.
Police officers Parker found Beckwith asleep in his car later that morning and took him into custody. Prosecutors say Beckwith had two of his firearms, including a previously reported stolen handgun, and another weapon whose serial number was completely missing.
Investigators said both weapons may have been linked to two separate vehicle robberies in Havasu.
Police returned Beckwith to Havasu that morning for questioning by detectives. According to an initial police statement, Beckwith admitted involvement in the shooting but denied involvement in the theft of his firearm.
At Beckwith’s trial, Ashley pleaded self-defense in Pietan’s death. According to court records, Ashley believed that Petetan may also have been armed when he confronted Beckwith on the morning of his death. Ashley indicated that Petetan’s weapon may have been hidden or removed from the scene by his associates before officers arrived.
As of Friday afternoon, court records showed that Beckwith had not contested the state’s claim for restitution.
Also, as of Friday afternoon, it appears that Beckwith’s appeal has not yet been filed in the Arizona Court of Appeals.
