New River Township Justice Court convened Thursday, August 24, with Judge Benjamin Trotter presiding.
Matthew Honecker appeared for a status hearing. CCPD Wright Noel, the counselor for Honecker, petitioned the court to remove the provision for random drug testing by Court Services as his client works two jobs in Fernley, six days a week. ADA Aaron Thomas opposed the request, stating that the defendant has addiction issues and fears the lack of supervision could be detrimental. As Honecker has no substance abuse or criminal history, Judge Trotter ruled Honecker will still have to check in with Court Services daily and submit to testing before any court appearances.
Richard Apodaca failed to appear for a status hearing. Judge Trotter issued a $5,000 cash-only bench warrant.
Sonnie Angelo Enzaldua, in custody, appeared from Churchill County jail via video conferencing for a status hearing on pending assault charges. CCPD Noel, assigned to represent him, petitioned the court to consider releasing Enzaldua on his own recognizance (OR) due to a medical condition that requires immediate treatment in Las Vegas. However, Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills “adamantly” opposed an OR release based on several factors, including the fact that he has a prior Simple Battery charge that was pled down from Battery on a Police Officer. Further, he was out on bail for a burglary/assault charge when he committed this offense. According to Mills, there is video footage of Enzaldua breaking the victim’s leg. “He is hurting our citizens while he is out bail for hurting our citizens.” Enzaldua asked Judge Trotter, “What would you do if someone threatened to kill you?” Trotter told him that he could not hear the facts of the case at that time and denied the OR request, stating that his connections to the community were questionable, as during his last court appearance, he said that he was homeless. “In the interest of public safety, I think bail is appropriate in this case.”
Jessica Greely, in custody, appeared via video conferencing from jail for a status hearing. Defense counsel for Greely, Charles Woodman, Esq., petitioned the court for an OR release, telling the court that his client has been in the community for 20-30 years, has no job, and therefore would not be a flight risk. He further stated that she and her two sons live with her elderly mother, who takes care of them while she is in custody. Senior Deputy DA Chelsea Sanford opposed the request, noting that this is Greely’s third offense for Offer, Attempt, or Commission of an Unauthorized Act Related to a Controlled Substance and that she was in possession of 39 grams of methamphetamine and 41.9 grams of hashish. “This indicated that she is in the business of selling controlled substances,” said Thomas. Woodman told the court that the drugs were on the other side of the car from Greely and belonged to an individual on probation with an “arrest on sight” flag by law enforcement, and the drug did not belong to his client. Judge Trotter evaluated Greely’s flight risk, lack of history of Failure to Appear charges, and open warrants and agreed to an OR release with strict supervision and drug testing by Court Services.
Several cases were continued, set for preliminary hearings, or were waived to District Court:
- Tanya Clay, preliminary hearing scheduled.
- David Downs continued.
- Davis Haskin continued.
- Randy Hutchcraft, waived up to District Court.
- Charles Ketelaar, continued.
- Deborah Lund, preliminary hearing scheduled
- Robert Shivner continued for four weeks.
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