District Court July 9

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, July 9, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

Autumn Nicole Castleberry appeared for a status hearing. Court Services Director Brenda Ingram told the court that Castleberry had missed nine drug tests. When Judge Stockard inquired why she missed tests, she said she had some medical tests in the hospital. Judge Stockard ordered a drug test, which she passed. Castleberry then pleaded guilty to the Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), punishable by 1-4 years in a Nevada State Prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Stockard noted there was no substance abuse evaluation on file with the court, which the defense said Castleberry would obtain. Stockard reminded Castleberry that she is still on Court Services, must check in daily by phone, and must test when her color is called. If she violates the terms of her release again, she will be returned to custody. Stockard set sentencing for August 13. 

Jesse Dalton Cogle pleaded guilty to Gross Misdemeanor of Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child Not Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, which carries a potential penalty of up to 364 days in Churchill County Jail and a fine of up to $2,000. For the court to consider probation on this charge, Cogle must submit to an alcohol assessment and psychological risk assessment. Cogle also pleaded guilty to a Misdemeanor DUI, 2nd Offense, punishable by ten days to six months in jail and a fine of $750-1,000. If convicted, Cogle will also have to obtain treatment, install a breathalyzer interlock device on his vehicle, attend a Victim Impact Panel, and attend DUI School. Sentencing was set for August 6.

Duane Edward Walsh pleaded guilty to the Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), punishable by 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Judge Stockard ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation and set sentencing for September 10.

Sherrie Lou Miller appeared for sentencing on the Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance, to which she pled guilty on May 21. The defense told the court that Miller had been doing well during her provisional placement in the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court and asked that she be officially placed in the program. Judge Stockard suspended proceedings and placed Miller on probation for 12 months with the condition that she complete Drug Court.

Alisha Gonzalez Ezly, in custody, pleaded not guilty to Count I) Category C Felony of Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, which carries a potential penalty of 1-5 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and not guilty to Count II) Category D Felony of Unlawful Removal, Defacement, Alteration, or Obliteration of the Identification Number of a Motor Vehicle or Part thereof, which carries 1-4 years in prison and a fine up to  $25,000. Ezly waived her right to a speedy trial and agreed to a Criminal Settlement Conference. Should the parties reach an agreed-upon resolution, a jury will hear the matter on January 29-31, 2025.

Joseph Terrell Libbee, in custody, pleaded not guilty to Count I) Category D Felony of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, which carries a potential penalty of 1-6 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000; and to Count II) Category D Felony of Battery with a Deadly Weapon which carries a potential penalty of 2-10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Libbee waived his right to a speedy trial. A Criminal Settlement Conference was set for July 16, 2024, with a trial set for February 24-28, 2025, if no resolution is reached.

Kameron Tanner Plants, in Nevada State custody, appeared for sentencing on Count I) Failure to Stop on the Signal of a Peace Officer While Under the Influence, a Category E Felony, and Count II) Misdemeanor DUI.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills told the court that Plants had a .295 blood alcohol level, that his criminal record shows he is not a stranger to the criminal justice system, and that the community and our law enforcement officers must be protected. Mills asked the court to fashion a sentence that would send the defendant the message.

Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel said the facts clearly show that his client has some problems. Plants didn’t remember what happened that day, and in his right mind, it would never have happened. Noel said Plants is a young man with a lot of potential, and he asked for the sentence to run concurrently with the case he has been sentenced on in Washoe County.

Plants read from a written statement apologizing to the court and to the Fallon public for what he said were “very negligent actions.” He stated he had never made such a huge mistake. Plants told the Court he has plans for his future, his children, and his recovery.

On Count I, Judge Stockard sentenced Plants to 16-42 months in prison, which will run concurrently with the Washoe County case. On Count II, Stockard fined Plants $400 and sentenced him to 61 days in jail, which will run concurrently with Count I. Plants was also ordered to complete an alcohol education course and a Victim Impact Panel. Upon his release from prison, he is to have an interlock device installed in any vehicle he owns or drives for 18 months.

Carl Wayne Sampson, in custody, appeared for sentencing on the Category D Felony of Fourth Degree Arson, to which he pled guilty on April 30. Deputy District Attorney Aaron Thomas explained the defendant is over 40 years old and was found having lit four different fires on private property. According to Thomas, Sampson said he was trying to get attention. He was also found to have methamphetamine in his pocket. Thomas asked for a 12-48 month suspended sentence. Thomas also reported that the victim suffered no monetary damages. PD Wright Noel said his client has substance abuse problems and asked for the joint recommendation as requested by the state. Judge Stockard granted Sampson probation on a suspended sentence of 12-48 months in prison and ordered him to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and to follow all recommendations therein.

Amanda Nicole Edwards, in custody, admitted to the non-technical sentencing violation of absconding in two cases. The first was a charge from 2019 for Using the Identifying Information of Another to Avoid or Delay Prosecution, and the second was a charge from 2021 for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

When Judge Stockard asked Edwards where she had been, she said in Reno. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford told the court, “We believe this defendant has made her own bed, and now she needs to lie in it.” According to Sanford, Edwards absconded for 896 days, or about 2 ½ years, and is no longer a viable candidate for supervision. She pointed out that Edwards did not turn herself in but was apprehended. Sanford asked that no modifications be made to the underlying sentence and that the defendant serve her complete term.

PD Wright Noel told the court that Edwards understands she has burned her bridge as far as supervision and asked the court to revoke her probation. Noel said that since she has been in custody (approximately 100 days), Edwards has taken advantage of the resources available to her, completing a substance abuse course and completing as much of her GED as she could.

Edwards apologized to Probation & Parole and the court. Judge Stockard revoked Edwards’s probation and imposed underlying sentences of 12-32 months on both cases, which will run consecutively. She was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of sentence.

Continuances: 

• Roland Isaac Zamora’s sentencing was continued to July 23 
• Karena Dawn Stark’s hearing for being removed from Drug Court was continued to July 23  
• Jared Aaron Greathouse’s sentencing was continued to July 23