Teresa Moon
Jillian Olivia Yesslith appeared for sentencing on the Category B felony of Battery by a Probationer or Parolee or a Prisoner in Lawful Custody.
Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford said the state is standing silent. Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer set the record, explaining Yesslith is still in treatment in Las Vegas where “she is doing exceedingly well;” and she was transported for court by treatment personnel. Sommer argued, “There are times when clients that I represent make such substantial changes that you can see it in their countenance; this is one of those …” He said Yesslith has become a different person; she has been in inpatient treatment for many months; she is now at a point where she is beginning to lead groups; she is excited about her opportunities she has connected to the treatment facility; and she regrets the behavior that got her here. The defendant told Sommer, “It is actually good that I got in trouble because it has produced some wonderful things for me.” The defense asked for probation for the minimum term.
Yesslith told the court about the work she is now doing at the treatment facility and the opportunities that are open to her there.
Fees and assessments were imposed; and the defendant received a sentence of 24-60 months in the Nevada State Prison, which was suspended, and she was placed on probation for 36 months. In addition to standard conditions of probation, Yesslith is to follow the recommendations of her substance abuse evaluation.
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David Scott Ehling, in custody, pleaded guilty to the Category D felony of Bestiality a Second or Subsequent Offense, which carries a potential penalty of one to four years and a fine of not more than $5,000. The factual basis explained that Ehling engaged in an inappropriate act with an animal for a second time — sexual conduct with a goose. Judge Stockard asked if this is true; the defendant said it is. A new Presentence Investigative Report was ordered, and sentencing was set for Feb. 18, 2025.
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Nicholas Pierre Ashley, in custody, pleaded not guilty to the following counts:
Count I: Battery Causing Substantial Bodily Harm to a Victim Which Constitutes Domestic Violence, a Category D felony that carries a potential penalty of one to six years in the Nevada State Prison and a fine of not more than $5,000 or less than $1,000. This charge carries a mandatory prison sentence. Count II: Battery by a Probationer or a Parolee or a Prisoner in Lawful Custody, a Category D felony that carries a potential penalty of one to six years in the Nevada State Prison; there is no fine associated with this charge, which is probation eligible.
Ashley waived his right to a speedy trial, and trial was set for July 14-18, 2025.
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Troy Holbrook, in custody, pleaded guilty to the Category D felony of Failure to Stop on the Signal of a Peace Officer, which carries a potential penalty of one to six years in the Nevada State Prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentencing was set for Feb. 18, 2025.
Churchill County Public Defender Wright Noel then addressed custodial status, asking that his client be released to the Western Regional Drug Court Program to decide if he should be released or not.
Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford opposed release based on Holbrook telling Court Services he does not have a drug or alcohol problem, and on his record. “From the State's perspective we have a behavioral criminal activity problem, not a substance abuse problem,” Sanford said.
Judge Stockard set a status hearing for Jan. 7, 2025, and ordered a new Court Services Risk Assessment, saying he wants to see criminal history, a substance abuse evaluation, and what it recommends.
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Marissa Marie Tybo, in custody, admitted to the non-technical sentencing violation of intoxicants, controlled substances, financial, missed appointments, and failure to complete the Western Regional Drug Court Program. DDA Priscilla Baker said, “This defendant was given chance after chance after chance to get a hold of her addiction … Drug Court is a privilege, and she just squandered that privilege.” The state asked that probation be revoked and she serve the underlying sentence of 19-48 months without modification. CCPD Jacob Sommer told the court the defense stipulated to revocation of her probation; he asked for modification to a lower sentence. Tybo thanked the court for the opportunity she was given. Fees and assessments were imposed, probation was revoked, and the sentence was modified to 14-48 months in the Nevada State Prison. Tybo was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of the sentence.
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Letisha Sage Johnson, in custody, admitted to a non-technical sentencing violation of intoxicants, controlled substance, and failure to complete specialty court. DDA Chelsea Sanford asked that probation be revoked and Johnson serve the underlying sentence. “She received specialty court as a gift … But as you can see, she has not availed herself of all this opportunity,” Sanford said. CCPD Jacob Sommer told the court this is Johnson’s first appearance for a probation violation, that she does indeed struggle with substance abuse addiction, as well as mental health problems with which she wrestles. He said she wants to get on top of this problem and prove to the court that she can actually do something. The defense asked for reinstatement to probation, with the condition of spending the next 10 weekends in jail if the court feels it is needed. Sommer said his client works at the Homestead, and they are holding her job as she has been a valuable employee.
Johnson read from a statement that she would like to make maintaining her sobriety her “number one priority again.” Probation was revoked and she was ordered to serve the underlying sentence of 14-48 months in the Nevada State Prison. Johnson was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of the sentence.
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Robert Charles Schostag admitted to the technical sentencing violation regarding spending weekends in custody and securing gainful employment for 32 hours a week.
DDA Chelsea Sanford asked that probation be temporarily revoked. Sanford said Schostag did not comply with almost all the conditions of his probation, missing 220 days. She said the defendant just disregarded the conditions. The state asked that the sentence be modified, that Schostag do his jail time as straight time rather than weekends. After straight time is served, he should still have to comply with all other conditions, including employment. Defense Attorney Charles Woodman told the court it was his understanding that his client was doing well and had graduated drug court; that the defendant came out of drug court thinking he did not have to continue to do weekends because he has his children every other weekend, and that his client says his probation contract does not have the employment condition. Woodman added that his client did what a lot of folks don’t do: he completed drug court. The defense asked if a 30-day revocation is invoked, that the defendant be given credit for the 18 days he has been in custody.
Schostag told the court he is sorry; he was confused and should have asked instead of assuming, and he does not remember the condition regarding employment being on his probation contract. He said if he is given the opportunity to continue weekends, he will not miss one. Judge Stockard told Schostag, “When words come out of my mouth, I want you to understand that I expect those to be followed. This is a case that I probably should have sent you to prison on. The level of a break I gave you is so substantial that you better stop assuming, you better stop cutting corners.” Schostag’s probation was temporarily revoked for 30 days; if he misses one weekend, Stockard ordered a memo from the Sheriff’s Office and a violation report be filed. Within 30 days of his release, the defendant is to provide proof of employment and hours worked weekly to his probation officer. Schostag was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of the sentence.
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Shawn Michael Webb appeared via Zoom, as he is currently incarcerated at Pelican Bay State Prison in California, for sentencing on the Category D felony of Failure to Stop on the Signal of a Peace Officer. DDA Chelsea Sanford told the court that Webb has 13 prior felonies, 27 misdemeanors, and a Court Services violation. “These types of offenses are not just no harm, no foul … every single time the defendant makes a run for it, it’s not positive for this community,” Sanford said. The state asked for incarceration and a consecutive sentence to the California sentence. CCPD Wright Noel asked that the case run concurrent with the California case. He said his client is regretful for his actions and apologizes for his behavior here. Webb’s expected parole date from California is July 14, 2025. Webb apologized to the court for the inconvenience, and said, “If this could be run concurrent, I’d really appreciate that.” Fees and assessments were imposed. Webb received a sentence of 19-48 months, to run consecutive to every case in California.
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CONTINUED:
• Arraignment for Nicholas Wesley Neal has been continued to Jan. 14, 2025.
• Sentencing for Rebecca Welch was continued to Jan. 7, 2025.
• Arraignment and sentencing for Henry Andrews were continued to Jan. 7, 2025.
• Sentencing for Donald Patrick Browning was continued to Feb. 18, 2025.
• The competency hearing for Melvyn Sanders-Hahn was continued to Jan. 21, 2025.
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