District Court for January 26th

The Tenth Judicial District Court was in session on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, with Judge Tom Stockard presiding.   

Denny Tony Benka (in custody) entered a guilty plea for an Assault on an Officer. According to Assistant District Attorney (ADA), Chelsea Sandford, Benka approached law enforcement officers in a threatening manner during his arrest on an unrelated charge. Benka refused to put a mask on at the time, claimed he had COVID, attempted to bite an officer, and later spit at the arresting officers. Benka’s public defender, Wright Noel, stated that Benka has substance abuse issues and recently lost his father. However, Benka stated that he would like to address his addiction problems and enter into a long-term treatment facility. He was sentenced to 150 days in the Churchill County Jail and received 37 days credit for time served. Judge Stockard encouraged Benka to follow up upon release and enroll in a long-term treatment program.   

Ashley Christine Day (in custody) was arraigned on a charge of Attempting to Commit Burglary of a Business, a gross misdemeanor that carries up to 364 days in the county jail. According to the allegations, on Sept 21st, Day entered Big R with the intent to commit larceny. ADA Sandford stated that while at Big R, Day unwrapped a knife valued at $71.78 from its packaging, placed it into her jacket pocket, and attempted to leave the store. Day pled guilty and received a suspended sentence of 364 days in jail with 28 days credit received for time-served. She was granted probation and placed in the Western Regional Drug Court program. Day is also facing unrelated charges in Justice Court.    

Nicholas Daniel Docherty (in custody) pled guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of Injury to Property. According to the allegations, on November 26th, Docherty threw a rock through a local business window. Docherty said to the court that he had just lost his sister was having a really hard time. ADA Priscilla Baker provided a video of the incident in which Docherty was seen throwing a rock through the front window of Systems Consultants on Maine Street. The damages are estimated at $750.00. Baker stated that Docherty had been throwing rocks at the windows of several other local businesses. Docherty received probation on a suspended sentence of 364 days in jail, of which he must serve 120 days. He will receive 61 days of credit for time-served.  

Susan Marie Ensminger appeared for sentencing on a charge of Attempting to Commit Embezzlement of $3,500 or more, a Class C Felony that can carry 1-5 years in prison. ADA Priscilla Baker stated that from April 2019 through February 2020, Ensminger used her 77-year-old mother’s money as her own. She accessed funds in her mother’s bank account to purchase a new car and pay her personal bills. The embezzled funds were needed to pay for her mother’s in-patient care at Highland Manor but were diverted to Ensminger before her mother’s death earlier this year. Ensminger received probation and was placed in the Western Nevada Regional Drug court diversion program. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $5,900, having already paid $5,000 toward the $10,900 due to Highland Manor.    

Dylan Joseph Fink was arraigned on charges of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, a Category C Felony that carries 1-5 years in prison. According to plea negotiations, Fink entered a guilty plea and will appear for sentencing on April 20th, 2021.      

Christina Lynn Gonzalez (in custody) recently appeared in court in Washoe County on a charge of DUI, 3rd offense, in which she was sentenced to 12-48 months in prison. The conviction in Washoe County constituted a violation of the terms of her probation in Churchill County. Gonzalez’s original Churchill County case was felony Hit and Run, for which she tried to blame her daughter (after which she was also cited). Judge Stockard sentenced Gonzalez to 28-72 months in prison on the Hit and Run charge that will run concurrently with the Washoe County case.   

Jesse Ray Lewin (26) was arraigned for allegedly Luring a Child with the Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct, a category B felony that carries 1-10 years in prison. Per plea negotiations entered into with the State, Lewin entered a guilty plea. According to Lewin, he communicated with a female on Facebook Messenger stating he did not know was 15. Sexually-oriented messages and illicit photographs were exchanged between the alleged victim and Lewin. If Lewin is convicted, he will be subject to lifetime supervision and required to register as a sex offender. He will appear for sentencing on April 20th.    
Lorinda A. Raymond appeared for sentencing on a charge of Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child, not causing substantial bodily harm, a gross misdemeanor. According to her defense attorney, Charles Woodman, the psychological evaluation determined that this was a “one-off” situation in which Raymond “snapped.” The allegations, as stated during her arraignment, show that Raymond hit her seven-year-old daughter last May. “We don’t make excuses for that,” Woodman said, “even under the worst of circumstances, as this was. Still. it was completely out of character for her.” In her address to the court, Raymond stated, “That just wasn’t me.” She received a suspended sentence of 364 days in jail, probation, and must obtain counseling.