Brayden Walker Castillo (19) appeared before Judge Thomas Stockard in the Tenth Judicial District Court for sentencing after several probation violations and Battery by an Inmate in Lawful Custody.
Castillo, who is currently in custody, has made several appearances in Justice and District Court over the last year. In October 2020, he was sentenced on a gross misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit grand larceny of a firearm after stealing a Glock G-21 handgun while attending a party with underage drinkers the previous May. Castillo received probation on a suspended sentence of 364 days in the County Jail, 100 hours of community service, and a fine of $1,000.
Castillo was arrested again in February for violating the terms of his probation. Appearing before Judge Stockard on February 27, Castillo told Judge Stockard, “When I was sentenced, I was in a bad mindset. I didn’t want to do probation at all.” Judge Stockard temporarily revoked Castillo’s probation and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. Stockard also warned Castillo that if he continued to violate his probation, the Court would continue to increase the days Castillo would spend in jail. Castillo was to obtain a substance abuse evaluation upon his release from custody.
Castillo failed to heed Judge Stockard’s warnings and was arrested on another probation violation in June. At that time, he was alsoi charged with an Unlawful Act Related to Human Excrement or Bodily Fluid by a Prisoner, Battery on a Peace Officer, Resisting a Public Officer, DUI, and for having an Open Alcohol Container in a Vehicle. According to the criminal complaint presented in District Court on June 26, a Churchill County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed a vehicle entering Fallon that could not maintain travel lanes. When he attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle went off the roadway, overcorrected, and bounced off a median. The deputy found Castillo to be the driver, who was highly intoxicated. Castillo then began resisting officers, kicking and spitting on officers while in custody. Deputies had to call a van to transport Castillo due to his combativeness.
Law enforcement later discovered that Castillo was also responsible for a hit and run accident in Storey County, which occurred immediately before the incident that precipitated his arrest in Fallon. While driving under the influence, Castillo hit a parked car with two passengers in the vehicle, including one minor.
Assistant District Attorney Priscilla Baker argued for prison for Castillo, stating that he has proven himself unwilling to be supervised. “He has put everyone at risk,” said Baker, “He has repeatedly failed to comply and been given additional chances on probation. He does not want to follow the rules and he is at high risk to continue his high-risk behavior.” Baker asked the Court to impose a prison sentence.
Churchill County Public Defender Wright Noel, current counsel for Castillo, argued for his client’s need for intensive rehabilitation. “What I hope is clear, is that my client was exposed to alcohol at a young age and some people are predisposed to extensive use of alcohol,” said Noel. “He will be the first to tell you his actions were completely inappropriate and that he should not have been drinking because he was on probation.” According to Noel, Castillo has been accepted to the Salvation Army residential substance abuse program. “We asked that he be granted probation, be placed in Drug Court, and do six months of residential treatment.”
Addressing the Court, Castillo said, “I would like to say I am sorry for the people I have put I danger and to law enforcement. What I did was really wrong. I need help. It’s hard to admit when you are not even old enough to drink that you are an alcoholic.”
Judge Stockard sentenced Castillo to probation on a suspended sentence of 28-72 months in prison, to run consecutively to his current jail term, and he must successfully complete the Wester Regional Drug Court program. “If you don’t,” said Stockard, “You will come back here on a probation violation.” Castillo must also complete 250 hours of community service. “You are going to need to learn to change some things,” continued Stockard. “If your words have any meaning this time, and you are successful, you won’t go to prison. You very easily could have gone to prison today.”
Castillo is still facing the DUI charge in Justice Court.
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