The Tenth Judicial District Court convened in Fallon on Tuesday, April 16, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.
Dereck Kyle Vradenburg-Wheeler, in custody, pleaded guilty to a “Wobbler” charge of Attempt to Commit Burglary of a Business. The “Wobbler” can be sentenced as either a Category D Felony, which carries a potential penalty of 1-4 years in a Nevada State Prison and a fine of up to $5,000, or as a Gross Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail. The allegations state that he did enter Walmart last November with the intent to commit petit larceny. Judge Stockard provisionally placed Vradenburg-Wheeler in the Western Regional Drug Court program. Upon approval by Drug Court, he will be released from custody under the supervision of Court Services. Judge Stockard ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) and set sentencing for June 18.
Jeremy Shawne Dixon, in custody, appeared on a 2016 child support case regarding delinquent payments. Judge Stockard shared that In February of 2016, Dixon pled guilty with sentencing delayed for a year, during which time Dixon was to make regular child support payments. By July, the state requested that sentencing be moved up as Dixon had not complied with the support order, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest. Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer was assigned to represent Dixon and asked for him to be released. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford objected and requested a Risk Assessment be conducted. Judge Stockard ordered the new assessment be completed by April 18, as the one from 2016 is outdated and may only be used as a historical record. A Status Hearing was set for April 23.
Frederick Raymond Dudley appeared via Zoom from St. Louis, where he lives, and is dealing with a son who is seriously ill and currently in a coma. Dudley pleaded guilty to the Category B Felony of Driving Under the Influence of Liquor or a Controlled or Prohibited Substance with a Prior Conviction for DUI. This charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of 2-15 years and a $2,000 - $5,000 fine. The charges state that Dudley was in control of a motor vehicle on a public roadway while under the influence of alcohol, with a .26 Blood Alcohol level, having a prior DUI conviction. PD Sommer requested that sentencing be postponed until August to allow Dudley time to get his son’s affairs in order and to make arrangements for the care of his other children while he is incarcerated. Judge Stockard addressed some concerns, including that Dudley is an abuser of alcohol and that the road he will be going down in the next few months could lead to relapse. Stockard stated that he worried about the people of St. Louis and Fallon. “I am going to let my compassion, or the State's compassion, guide this … but it is with some hesitancy …,” said Stockard. “You are going to do the hardest thing maybe you've ever done … prison will be easy compared to what you are going to do ...” Dudley said he appreciated the Court's compassion, “I don’t deserve it, but, thank you.” Sentencing was set for August 20.
Jessica Kay Collins Monma, in custody, denied a Technical Sentencing Violation. The allegations state several infractions, including controlled substances, weapons, searches, her associates, and failing to comply with other orders, including obtaining a substance abuse evaluation and following the recommendations listed. The court will set a Dispositional Hearing. Should the court find that she has violated the terms of her release, her probation may be revoked and her underlying sentence imposed. In February of 2023, Monma received a suspended sentence of 22-55 months in prison on the Category C Felony of Offer, Attempt, or Commission of an Unauthorized Act Relating to the Manufacture or Compounding of Certain Controlled. Monma was not released from custody.
Yanira Lopez-Cortez, in custody, appeared for sentencing on two Category C Felonies: Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (a Subaru) and Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle (a Chevrolet Cruz). Judge Stockard granted Lopez-Cortez probation on suspended consecutive sentences of 19-48 months in prison for each count, with credit given for 290 days for time served. She was placed in Drug Court and must obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations. She was also ordered to pay $1,800 restitution at $75 a month beginning 30 days after her release from custody. Lopez-Cortez is also facing unrelated charges in Washoe County.
Roland Isaac Zamora pleaded guilty to the "Wobbler" charge of Attempt to Commit Burglary of a Business. The charges state that Zamora entered Maverick and took a case of beer. Judge Stockard ordered a PSI and set sentencing for July 9.
Clayton Lee Heflin pleaded no contest to the Gross Misdemeanor of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. DDA Sanford asked the court to sentence Heflin to probation on a 364-day sentence, with all but 90 days suspended. She explained there is surveillance video of a truck matching the description of the defendant's truck towing away construction equipment. The construction equipment was found on the side of the road with the defendant and his vehicle by the equipment.
PD Sommer, defense counsel for Heflin, stated substantial evidentiary issues were involved with the case, most notably being that the video footage was unclear regarding who it was or what it was. Sommer said Heflin was in his truck, which he was living in at the time, in the same area where the equipment was found. He stated that Heflin has no criminal history and is taking responsibility for being in the area but does not agree that he took the equipment. He asked for probation for his client and for the entire jail term to be suspended.
Judge Stockard granted Sommer’s request, and Heflin was placed on probation with no jail time required. He was fined $750, to be paid at $75 monthly. Stockard also ordered him to obtain a substance abuse evaluation, follow its recommendations, and have no contact with the victim.
Salvador Macias, Jr. pleaded no contest to the Gross Misdemeanor of Conspiracy to Commit Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child Not Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. According to the factual basis provided, there was a physical altercation between Macias and a stepchild. Judge Stockard told Macias that he would like him to complete a substance abuse evaluation and enroll in an anger management course, then report how they are going when he returns for sentencing on June 4.
William Stephen McHaney appeared for sentencing on two charges: 1) the Gross Misdemeanor of Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child Not Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, and 2) the Misdemeanor of Battery that Constitutes Domestic Violence.
McHaney and his attorney, Paul Wolfe, Esq., appeared via Zoom. Wolfe explained that his client tried obtaining a risk assessment; however, the assessing practitioner requested a criminal history for the assessment. According to Wolfe, the psychiatrist received this but could not complete the report in time for court. The matter was continued to May 14.
Comment
Comments