District Court News

By Teresa Moon

The Tenth Judicial District Court Convened Tuesday, August 15, Judge Thomas Stockard presiding. Cecil Mark Riggs, in custody, appeared for sentencing on the Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) which carries a potential penalty of 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Senior DDA Chelsea Sanford asked for a suspended 12–48-month sentence, with the condition that Riggs enter and complete Western Nevada Drug Court. The matter was continued for one week, and the judge provisionally ordered Riggs to Drug Court.

Juan Jesus Rangel, in custody, admitted to multiple probation violations, including absconding. DA Chelsea Sanford asked the court to revoke his probation and impose his underlying sentence. Rangel absconded on March 3, 2022, and was arrested 515 days later. Rangel apologized for his actions, saying he was scared to come in because he wasn’t sure what would happen. Rangel said he has been working and supporting his family, and he wants to get this over and done with and will do whatever needs to be done. Judge Stockard reinstated Rangel’s probation. He will forfeit any good time credit earned and serve 180 days in jail. 

Tiffany Lynnae John, in custody, pleaded guilty to two Category D charges of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or a Debit Card or Identifying Description of Credit Account or Debit Card, Presumption of Knowledge of Revocation of Credit Card or Debit Card. Each charge carries a penalty of 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentencing was set for October 31. The judge stipulated that John obtain residential inpatient substance abuse treatment in the interim.

Crystal Lynn Moore, in custody, appeared for sentencing on a Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and a Category D Felony of Ex-Felon Not to Possess a Stun Device. DDA Sanford asked for consecutive sentences of 12-36 and 16-72 months in prison, citing Moore’s Court Services history, which includes multiple violations. Director of Court Services Brenda Ingram read a lengthy list of infractions. Moore received probation on suspended sentences of 19-48 and 20-72 months in prison and must complete Drug Court. “The court’s tolerance for future behavior like that,” said the judge, “it’s not zero, but it’s as close to zero as you can get. Be crystal clear on that.”

James Howard Knight, in custody, appeared for sentencing on the Category B Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance High Level (58 grams methamphetamine or more), to which Knight pled guilty in May. DDA Sanford asked for a stiff penalty saying Knight is a drug dealer who sold 94.2 grams of drugs in Churchill County, making a profit of $1,200. She asked that he also pay $1,200 in restitution to the task force. She asked that the court “send a message to the drug community that drug dealers will be sent to prison, and the payoff will not be worth it.” PD Sommer, defense counsel for Knight, said his client has been using meth since he was ten, and it is unfortunate that when someone has a drug problem, they start selling drugs to support their habit. He asked for probation with the condition that the defendant completes the Drug Court reporting and stated that his client recently received inpatient services at New Frontier. Knight was granted probation on a suspended sentence of 72-180 months in prison. Additionally, Knight must spend 180 days in jail, gain full-time employment within 30 days of release, and pay $1,200 restitution. Stockard also imposed a $7,500 fine.

Jeffery Raymond Kendall, in custody, admitted a sentencing violation. Judge Stockard revoked Kendall’s probation and ordered the defendant to serve the underlying sentence of 180 days in the Churchill County Jail. 

Vanessa Kaylynn Rodrigues, in custody, pleaded guilty to the Category C Felony of Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, which carries a potential penalty of 1-5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Wright Noel, public defender for Rodrigues, told the court that his client was homeless at the time of the offense and has a substance abuse history. Rodrigues received probation on suspended 16-56 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,011.98. 

Please note: Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty according to Constitutional Due Process protections outlined in the 5th, 6th, and 14th Amendments. The Fallon Post court reports are based solely on publicly available legal documents and/or court hearings unless otherwise stated.