District Court Oct. 20

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, Oct. 20, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

Saul Diosdado-Gonzalez, in state custody on two Lander County cases, appeared for sentencing on two felony counts of Making, Uttering, or Possessing with Intent to Utter a Fictitious Bill, Note, or Check.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford described the offense as “a crime of opportunity and strategy.” She explained that a local business had provided check-cashing services for its customers but discontinued the service because of incidents such as this one, in which Diosdado-Gonzalez cashed a forged paycheck.

Sanford requested $2,285.28 in restitution and noted that it had not been paid. “We need to send a message to this defendant that this will not be tolerated in our community,” she said. The state requested consecutive sentences of 12-34 months in prison. Sanford did not request extradition costs because Diosdado-Gonzalez was indigent.

Churchill County Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel told the court that his client would be deported, “and I think prolonging the time of his stay in Nevada does nothing to help him or to help the State of Nevada.” Noel requested two concurrent sentences of 12-30 months in prison, also to run concurrently with the Lander County sentences.

Speaking through an interpreter, Diosdado-Gonzalez apologized to the court.

“More than anything I would like to offer an apology for what I did … From the bottom of my heart, I want to ask for forgiveness for those … which I should not have done.”

He explained that his behavior changed when he was using drugs. “But honestly, I am not like that. I love my family. I like to work … forgive me; from the bottom of my heart.”

Judge Stockard imposed two sentences of 12-40 months in prison, to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the Lander County sentences. Diosdado-Gonzalez was also ordered to pay $2,285.28 in restitution.

LaTanya Karimu Stiner, also known as Tanya Ruth Stiner, pleaded not guilty to Embezzlement of $25,000 to Less Than $100,000, a Category B Felony punishable by 1-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Judge Stockard set trial for May 26-28, 2027.

Nicholas Andrew Thompson pleaded guilty to Non-Support of a Spouse, Former Spouse, or a Child, a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Pursuant to plea negotiations, Judge Stockard continued sentencing to Nov. 23, 2027, to allow Thompson time to demonstrate that he can and will make appropriate child support payments.

Nancy Griffiths failed to appear for her scheduled arraignment.

The defense requested a one-week continuance, while the state asked for a bench warrant. Court Services reported that Griffiths had a history of several failures to appear.

Judge Stockard issued a $5,000 cash-only bench warrant and set a status hearing for Oct. 27.

Mario Alberto Antunez-Morales appeared for arraignment on Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child Not Causing Substantial Bodily or Mental Harm, a Gross Misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Antunez-Morales initially pleaded guilty. However, after the factual basis for the charge was presented, Judge Stockard asked whether the allegations accurately described his actions. Antunez-Morales said they did not.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford told the court that the state would file an amended information containing multiple counts of Category B Felony Child Abuse.

Judge Stockard continued the arraignment to Oct. 27 to address the amended information.

Dakota Lee Hampton pleaded guilty to two gross misdemeanor charges: Indecent or Obscene Exposure and Attempt to Capture an Image of a Private Area of Another Person. Each charge is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Pursuant to plea negotiations, sentencing on the Indecent or Obscene Exposure charge was set for Oct. 19, 2027. On the charge of Attempt to Capture an Image of a Private Area of Another Person, Hampton was provisionally placed in the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court, with sentencing set for Nov. 3.

Judge Stockard placed Hampton on Court Services supervision, requiring daily check-ins and random testing.

Autumn Rae Yungk pleaded guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), a Category E Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison.

Judge Stockard ordered a presentence investigation (PSI) and set sentencing for Dec. 15.

Damariz Lizveth Menchaca pleaded not guilty to Battery Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Menchaca waived her right to a speedy trial, and Judge Stockard set a jury trial for Feb. 3-5, 2027.

A criminal settlement conference was set for Dec. 18. The conference allows the prosecution and defense to explore a possible resolution with the assistance of a senior district court judge from another jurisdiction. If no agreement is reached, the case will proceed to jury trial.

Lisa Renae Johnson pleaded guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), First or Second Offense, a Category E Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 with mandatory probation.

Senior Deputy Public Defender Jeff Weed told the court that his client's only criminal history was a DUI from 1990. Weed requested a minimum suspended sentence of 12-32 months in prison.

Judge Stockard granted probation on a suspended sentence of 12-32 months in prison.

Christopher David Middleton pleaded guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance, First or Second Offense, a Category E Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Churchill County Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel reminded the court that Middleton was a co-defendant of Lisa Johnson, who also appeared for sentencing that day. Noel said his client had taken responsibility for the drugs and requested a minimum suspended sentence with probation.

Middleton told Judge Stockard that he and his girlfriend were passing through Fallon while traveling from California to Washington and that he was unaware of Nevada's laws.

Judge Stockard granted probation on a suspended sentence of 12-36 months in prison and ordered Middleton to obtain a substance abuse evaluation.

Dylan James Irwin Schostag, in custody, pleaded guilty to Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child, a Category B Felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison.

Schostag must undergo a psychological risk assessment and be determined not to be at high risk of reoffending before probation can be considered.

Judge Stockard ordered a presentence investigation report and set sentencing for Jan. 12, 2027.