Ciera Elizabeth Coatney appeared for sentencing in the Tenth Judicial District before Judge Thomas Stockard on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Ciera Coatney has spent the last three years in the DUI Diversion program, hoping not only to avoid prison but to change her life. And that she has.
According to her attorney, Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer, Coatney was a model participant during her three years in the program, which she recently successfully completed. “She is a completely different person today,” said Sommer, clearly proud of the work Coatney has done to chart herself a different course.
Coatney addressed the Court, recounting the program’s many benefits and how the DUI Diversion program has improved her life.
According to Coatney, early on in the program, she was placed on house arrest, which caused her to examine her life and consider how she could take control of her environment and her future.
Soon after, and with no small effort, Coatney applied for the necessary business licenses, became a small business owner, and opened a dog daycare. Coatney said that the program has helped her come from scraping together change to buy milk for her children to buying a home, increasing her income, regaining custody of her children, and growing her business. “The business is growing so much, I am now looking for a larger space,” said Coatney. Further, she reported that she is no longer on any type of government assistance.
Assistant District Attorney Priscilla Baker praised Coatney’s efforts, stating that she is “a real success.” Judge Stockard also commended her hard work. Upon completing the DUI diversion program, Judge Stockard was able to reduce her conviction to a second offense. She was sentenced to 10 days in jail and probation, all of which she has already served.
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