The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, Sept. 15, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Fallon with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

Reuben Job Conkle appeared in two cases involving Possession of a Controlled Substance and Attempt to Commit Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Debit Card or Identifying Description.

On the possession charge, a Category E felony, Senior Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker said the state did not oppose Conkle’s application for diversion. She said Conkle had been provisionally placed in Drug Court and was “doing very well.”

Judge Stockard granted the diversion application, suspended further proceedings, and placed Conkle on probation. He ordered Conkle to enter and complete Drug Court, obtain a substance abuse evaluation, and follow all recommendations.

On the attempted fraudulent use charge, a wobbler, Baker asked Stockard to sentence the offense as a Category E felony and place Conkle on probation so he could continue Drug Court. She said the state had notified the victim, who was satisfied with the resolution.

Stockard sentenced the offense as a Category E felony. He granted Conkle probation on a 12-32 month suspended sentence, ordered $14 restitution, and applied 48 days of credit for time served.

Daniel Alexander Dinwiddie-Porter, in custody, appeared for sentencing on Possession of a Controlled Substance, a first or second offense, which is a Category E felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison.

SDDA Priscilla Baker said the parties had originally agreed to diversion and Drug Court. However, Dinwiddie-Porter was subsequently transferred to Lyon County, where he was sentenced to 12-30 months in prison for Burglary of a Structure. Baker asked the court to impose probation in the Churchill County case.

Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer agreed with the state’s recommendation.

Judge Stockard granted Dinwiddie-Porter probation on a suspended 12-32-month sentence, ordered the sentence to run consecutively to the Lyon County case, and applied 62 days credit for time served.

Louis Samuel Afraidofhawk appeared for continued sentencing on Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a Category B felony.

SDDA Chelsea Sanford asked the court to impose 12-36 months in prison, citing the seriousness of the incident and its continuing impact on the victim. If the court granted probation, Sanford requested strict conditions and $9,368.16 in restitution for damage to the victim’s vehicle.

Senior Public Defender Jeffery Weed asked for probation, saying Afraidofhawk, 24, had been addressing his alcohol use through counseling and had completed anger management and substance abuse counseling. Weed said Afraidofhawk was employed and wanted the opportunity to pay restitution.

Afraidofhawk told the court he had been sober for about three months and regretted his actions.

“This definitely taught me not to react to my emotions because it brought out some new emotions that I’ve never felt before that day,” he said. “I shouldn’t have acted on them and I really regret it.”

Judge Stockard granted Afraidofhawk probation on a suspended 28-72-month prison sentence with 10 days of credit applied for time served.

Stockard ordered Afraidofhawk to pay $9,368.16 in restitution at $500 per month, continue anger management counseling, obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations, and have no contact with the victim.

Robert Lilburn Nelson failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.

Deputy Public Defender Kenneth Tedford said Nelson had been notified of the hearing and that his absence was unusual. Tedford said Nelson had no previous failures to appear noted in his Court Services history and asked for a continuance.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford opposed the request and asked the court to issue a bench warrant, noting the victims were present and the state was prepared to proceed.

Judge Stockard declined to issue a warrant and continued the case to Oct. 6. He said that if Nelson fails to appear again, the court will move forward with setting the case for trial.

Hayden Sibley admitted to a nontechnical probation violation for failing to complete the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court program.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford said Sibley had made little progress during approximately 20 months in Drug Court and described an incident in which he became angry with treatment providers. Sanford said the state would have sought revocation of his probation and a prison sentence but for Drug Court’s willingness to accept him back. She instead requested a 30-day jail sanction.

CCPD Jacob Sommer acknowledged Sibley’s conduct was unacceptable but said his treatment providers believed he had made meaningful progress and wanted him to continue in the program.

Sibley apologized for his behavior. “I’m quite frankly ashamed and I’m very embarrassed for how I reacted that day,” he said. “Those people didn’t do anything wrong. They didn’t deserve how I acted at all.”

Judge Stockard said that between May and Sibley’s removal from Drug Court on Sept. 2, there was only one two-week period in which he attended all of his appointments.

“My initial inclination is to send you to prison … and I still may do that,” Stockard said.

Stockard provisionally readmitted Sibley to Drug Court and set final disposition for Dec. 1. He said the court will review Sibley’s attendance and participation before deciding whether he will be allowed to remain in the program.

“The time for excuses is done,” Stockard told him. “It better be a perfect program.”

Socora Renee Arreguin appeared for a status hearing. Judge Stockard continued the matter to Oct. 6.

Susan Lynch’s case was continued to Oct. 6.