District Court News

Kenneth Berry Dennison appeared to change a previously entered plea on charges of Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, a Category B Felony punishable by 2-15 years in prison, to which he pled not guilty. According to retained counsel, Steve Evenson, Esq., this was a case of self-defense. However, due to the seriousness of the offense and the potential for a felony conviction, he and his client worked with the state toward a resolution.

Lane Mills, Chief Deputy District Attorney, told the Court should the matter have gone to trial, the State was prepared to prove that Dennison did shoot the named victim in the case, causing substantial bodily harm. The newly amended information charges Dennison with “Attempt to Commit” Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm, which can be charged as either a Category D Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison or a gross misdemeanor, which carries up to 364 days in jail. As per the terms of the agreement, Dennison entered a no-contest plea, which the court entered into the record. Sentencing was set for September 13, 2022.

Brian Keith DeWitt appeared with Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer on a charge of Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child, a Category B Felony punishable by 1-6 years in prison. Judge Stockard informed DeWitt that probation on this offense is not allowable by Nevada Statute unless a psychological risk assessment is completed before sentencing.

According to Sommer, on January 26, his client was present while another individual struck a minor child several times, and he did not respond quickly enough to keep the child safe. Further, the injuries sustained by the child were enough to meet the statutory requirements for the charge against DeWitt. DeWitt pled not guilty, and sentencing was set for September 6.

Ronnell Edward Wilson appeared with CCPD Jacob Sommer on four charges that include: (1) Fraudulent Use of Credit or Debit Card by a Cardholder for $100 or more, a Category D Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison, (2) Offer, Attempt, or Commission of an Unauthorized Act Relating to a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance, a first offense and a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years. (3-4) Wilson is facing two separate counts relating to incidents that occurred on different dates, (5) Conspiracy to Commit a Crime Under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, a first offense – a Category C Felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison. According to Sommer, on March 2 and March 3, Wilson did sell methamphetamine to another individual. Additionally, on March 3, he conspired with another to sell methamphetamine. Further, more serious charges were dismissed or reduced by acceptance of the plea agreement. Sentencing was set for September 13.

Patricia Pearl Coursey, a resident of California, failed to appear for her scheduled arraignment on charges related to her arrest for driving with a suspended driver’s license, possession of a schedule I/II controlled substance less than 14 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia. The Court granted a one-week continuance at the request of CCPD Wright Noel.

Daniel Ray Sharp appeared for sentencing, accompanied by his retained defense attorney, Jesse Kalter, Esq. According to Kalter, the matter was originally set for a jury trial. However, the defense and the state worked toward a satisfactory plea agreement in which the final negotiations resulted in a misdemeanor charge of Conspiracy to Commit Coercion with Use of Physical Force or the Immediate Threat of Physical Force. Sharp was initially arraigned on three felony charges, (1) Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a Category B Felony punishable by 1-6 years in prison, (2) Burglary with Possession of a Firearm or Deadly Weapon, a Category B Felony, punishable by 1-10 years, (3) Coercion with use of Physical Force or the Immediate Threat of Physical Force, a Category B Felony that carries 1-6 years. Sharp waived his right to a speedy trial and pled not guilty on all three charges. According to the amended information outlined in the plea agreement, on January 6, 2020, at or near 1044 Butte View Drive in Fallon, Sharp “did conspire with another with intent to compel another to do or abstain from doing an act that the other person has the right to do or abstain from doing, use physical force or the immediate threat of physical force to violence or inflict injury up the other person or any of his family, or upon his property, or threaten such violence or injury; deprive the person of any tool or implement, or clothes, or hinder him the use thereof; or attempt to intimidate that person with threats of force, to wit: said defendant did use the immediate threat of physical violence upon Eli McDonnell and demanded he leave his own room.” Sharp declined to comment, and no victim impact testimony was given during the sentencing hearing. Per the plea agreement terms, Sharp was ordered to pay the recommended $2,000 in restitution, a fine of $2,000, and was sentenced to one day in the Churchill County Jail, which he has already served. Sharp is currently running for the position of Churchill Count Sheriff against current Sheriff Richard Hickox.