The Lake Havasu City Police Department is releasing the following information pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 13-3825 (Sex Offender Community Notification Law). This offender has indicated he will be living in Lake Havasu City.
Harlan Ritz resides at 2635 Widgeon Drive in Lake Havasu City. Ritz is a 62-year-old white male, 6 feet tall, weighs 230 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. In 1991, Ritz was arrested in Lake Havasu City and charged with attempted sexual conduct with a minor after he solicited a 10-year-old female that he did not know. Two weeks later, another report was filed in regards to the repeated molestation of a 10-year-old female victim. In 1992, Ritz was convicted of sexual conduct with a minor and served 11 years in prison.
Ritz has been convicted of and has completed his sentence for a sex offense. Ritz has registered with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office as a convicted Sex Offender and is currently residing at the listed address. Ritz is not currently wanted by the Lake Havasu City Police Department or any other police agency at this time.
“Megan’s Law” is the name for a 1996 federal law, and informal name for subsequent state laws, requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. The law was named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered by a sex offender who lived in her neighborhood. Megan’s parents demanded legislative action and believed every parent should have the right to know if a sexual predator moves into their neighborhood.
A risk assessment determines what level sex offender an individual is based on a series of questions and point values. The purpose of the assessment is to try and gauge the offender’s likelihood of relapse into criminal behavior. There are three levels of sex offenders in Arizona ranging from a low of 1 to a high of 3. Level 1 offenders are not community notifiable by state statute and are considered to be a low risk to reoffend. Level 2 and level 3 sex offenders are community notifiable, with level 2 considered an intermediate risk and level 3 considered a high risk and most likely to reoffend.
This notification is not intended to cause fear; rather it is believed that an informed community is a safer community. Further information on crime prevention, personal safety or to help concerned citizens join or start a Neighborhood Watch Program is available by calling the Lake Havasu City Police Department at (928) 855-1171. If you have any information regarding current criminal activity on this or any other offender, please call Havasu Silent Witness at (928) 855-TIPS or the Police Department.
For more information on Level 2 and Level 3 Sex Offenders living within Lake Havasu City limits, please visit the links below.
Public Information Officer: Detective Chris Angus
Photo of: Harlan Ritz