District Court News

Jamarr Antwan Smith was scheduled for sentencing but did not appear. Smith reached out to his attorney Churchill County Public Defender (CCPD) Wright Noel stating that he was sick. Due to the recent COVID outbreak in the area and renewed mask mandates in the courts Judge Stockard wanted to allow him to test and allow him to return when the results of the test come back. Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Chelsea Sanford said that Smith has a long history of failure to appear which is concerning; she would ask that proof of COVID testing be brought to court. Judge Stockard continued the case for one week pending results of a COVID test.  

James David McClain (in custody) was present for a competency review. Judge Stockard found McClain competent to return to justice court with new counsel Scott Edwards Esq., after asking that CCPD Jacob Sommer no longer represent him. McClain addressed the court and asked to be transferred from the custody of NDOC to Churchill County due to his concerns about COVID, Judge Stockard was unable to grant that request.  

Samantha Sabrina Ortiz-Quiroz (in custody) pled guilty to Attempt to Commit Home Invasion a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison. CCPD Jacob Sommer, counsel for Ortiz-Quiroz stated that June 24, 2021, his client did attempt to kick in the door of an occupied residence after the owner had told her to go away. CCPD Jacob Sommer did address the court regarding his client’s custodial status, and said his client stated she did not want to be released unless it was to an inpatient program. Sommers asked that she is provisionally released to the drug court program, so she can receive help for her substance abuse issues and begin treatment. District Attorney Lane Mills stated that the incident happened while Ortiz-Quiroz was highly intoxicated on illegal substances. Judge Stockard amended bail to state that she can be released to an inpatient treatment facility but she is to remain in custody until she is able to secure placement in New Frontier and upon the completion of the program she will be returned to custody until resolution of the case. Sentencing is scheduled for October 26, 2021, with a presentencing investigation (PSI). 

Jonathon Wayne Brown (in custody) pled not guilty to (1) Kidnapping in the Second Degree a Category B Felony punishable by 2-15 years in prison (2) Battery That Constitutes Domestic Violence Committed by Strangulation a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison  (3) Kidnapping in the Second Degree a Category B Felony punishable by 2-15 years in prison  (4) False Imprisonment a Gross Misdemeanor punishable by 364 days in jail (5)Coercion That Constitutes Domestic Violence a Category B Felony punishable by 1-6 years in prison. Count one and three are continuation offenses that occurred on different days at different locations. Count two has a mandatory prison sentence. Trial is scheduled to begin March 2, 2022, and expected to last for three days. CCPD Wright Noel did request a senior judge for a potential pre-settlement conference.  

Brian Keith Alford (in custody) pled guilty to (1) Possession of a Controlled Substance of a High Level a Category B Felony punishable by 2-15 years in prison (2) Offer, Attempt, or Commission of an Unauthorized Act Relating to the Manufacture or Compounding of Certain Controlled Substances a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison. CCPD Jacob Sommer, counsel for Alford, stated that his client did knowingly possess more than 42 grams, but less than 100 grams of methamphetamine and he did sell methamphetamine to cooperating source. A PSI was ordered with sentencing scheduled for October 26, 2021. CCPD Jacob Sommer asked the court to consider granting Alford an OR provisionally into the drug court program so he is able to address his struggle with his addiction and prove to the court that he is indeed superviseable. Brenda Ingram stated that during his time with court services, Alford had missed testing and did test positive twice for methamphetamine. Judge Stockard said that he is not inclined to provisionally admit him into drug court, but he might consider release into an inpatient treatment facility. ADA Chelsea Sanford asked that he remain in custody until completion of the case. The OR request was denied at this time but will consider further requests with a more solid plan for treatment including a bed date.