Jason James Teeter, in custody, appeared on a probation violation in the Tenth Judicial District Court before Judge Thomas Stockard on October 31.
Last Spring, Teeter received probation on a suspended sentence of 19-48 months in prison for a Category C Felony charge of Manufacture, Importation, Possession or use of Dangerous Weapon or Silencer; Carrying Concealed Weapon without Permit.
According to Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford, his performance has been less than stellar since he was sentenced in March. . Teeter, who is now living in Tonopah, has been under the supervision of Officer Deeds, with Nevada Parole and Probation. Deeds has been driving to Tonopah to administer drug tests to Teeter, however, he is never “available,” according to Deeds, who appeared via Zoom. (The italicized text notes an update to the article to more accurately reflect the hearing).
“There have been no drug tests, no Substance Abuse Evaluation, no proof of employment. The defendant has been unavailable any time the officer tried to do any home visits,” said Sanford. “In the state’s opinion, he has been avoiding supervision or consistently having other priorities that are above his compliance with this court's order for probation.” She asked the court to revoke Teeter’s probation and impose the underlying sentence of 19-48 months.
Defense counsel for Teeter, Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer, asked to have Teeter’s probation reinstated, with the condition that he enter and complete the Western Regional Drug Court Program, even though the underlying offense is unrelated to substance abuse. Sommers told the court he believes the structure would benefit his client, stating, “It would be better for him, and it would provide him the tools that he feels like he needs.”
DDA Sanford directed the court’s attention to Teeter's Pre-Sentence Investigative Report, in which he denies any use of substances. She said she found it convenient that now that he is facing a violation, after seven months of non-compliance, he is asking to attend drug court. She also questioned whether Teeter is even statutorily eligible as his charges were not drug related.
Teeter addressed the court, stating, “I should have done better, and given the opportunity, I will do better.”
Judge Stockard told Teeter, “You're either untruthful with this court at sentencing with this report where you say there is no substance abuse history, or you're untruthful today when you say you need it.” Judge Stockard temporarily revoked probation, sanctioning Teeter to 30 days in Churchill County Jail, and denied his request to the Drug Court. “I am not going to waste precious resources when you say you're not an addict,” Stockard said. “Listen to me very carefully. You're going to get a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days of being released from jail.”
“If he doesn’t have an evaluation within 30 days, Officer Deeds, I want him brought back before this court on a probation violation," Stockard said, “If he's not available when you drive to Tonopah to do a drug test, I want him brought up on a probation violation.” The Judge then told Teeter, “Once you get that evaluation, you are going to do every single thing that it tells you to do, and you’re going to forfeit any good time credit because you haven't done any good time; you haven't done what you're supposed to do.”
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