Francis Keanu Akau (in custody) arrived at Court Services for drug testing prior to his scheduled court appearance on April 29, where he tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines. Akau disclosed he had used on April 26 and was subsequently returned to custody. Churchill County Public Defender, Wright Noel, stated that last week his client took his mother to California for cancer treatments with the court’s permission. Upon Akau’s positive test, Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Chelsea Sanford argued for a bail increase and that Akau be held in custody until sentencing June. Noel argued he was under the impression there would be some reprieve with testing due to Akau transporting his mother to her treatment center. Noel asked that his client be released from custody upon a negative test, with court services supervision and removal of testing reprieve. If he has any missed or positive tests, he shall be returned to custody with a no-bail hold. Starting May 25, he will begin testing daily and will also test before sentencing.
Darren Neil Albury was not present for court, a bench warrant was issued, and bail set at $100,000 cash only.
Curtis Brady, Jr (in custody) CCPD Wright Noel, counsel for Brady, stated that he previously provided a mental health evaluation for Brady from 2020; there are notes of schizophrenia. Brady had his medication for the condition changed recently by the doctor in the jail. When Noel met with Brady to execute a guilty plea memorandum, Brady stated that he felt drunk. His appearance made Noel extremely uncomfortable having his client sign the documents. Noel is not concerned with his competency but is concerned with Brady’s reaction to current medications. The prescribing physician stated it could take up to 4 weeks for the medicine to stabilize in the body. Judge Stockard continued the case for a week allowing Brady to touch bases with the prescribing physician.
Ronald Charles Hughes (in custody) pled guilty to Buying, Possessing, or Receiving Stolen Property valued over $5,000 but less than $25,000 a Category C Felony punishable by 1- 5 years prison. Grand Larceny of Personal Goods or Property valued over $5,000 but less than $25,000 a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison. Burglary of a Structure a Category B Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison. The allegations state that Hughes possessed a golf cart with an approximate value of $6,500 stolen from the Fernley Golf course. Someone had called police regarding a golf cart being driven down highway 50. When police attempted to make contact with the driver, he fled, leaving behind his cellphone. Police obtained a warrant for his phone and identified incriminating photos of other crimes. Hughes also was accused of breaking into three mobile homes and taking property, including jewelry, dolls, knives, and glass heart. Sentencing is set for July 27.
Jesse Ray Lewin was present for sentencing, but due to an independent evaluation coming in late and being given to the state and defense that morning, the case was continued to May 18, allowing all parties time to review the information.
Roland Isaac Zamora pled guilty to Burglary of a Business, a Category C Felony, and the potential penalties are 1-5 years in prison. Churchill County Public Defender (CCPD) Wright Noel, defense for Zamora, stated that his client did enter Kent’s Building Supply with the intent to commit grand larceny by entering the premise after hours through a broken window and taking merchandise. Investigators did a DNA test on blood found in and around the building that did come back as a match to Zamora. Zamora stated that he did not intend to take things from the building, but he had gone to the casino before this incident and gotten highly intoxicated. He had lost his money at the casino gambling and gotten angry. While he was headed home, he decided to throw a rock through the window; when there were no alarms sounding, he then went through the window and removed merchandise from the building. Sentencing is scheduled for July 27.
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