District Court June 18

Joseph Terrell Libbee was not present for the scheduled arraignment. Judge Stockard said he is in jail, and he requested not to come to court today. Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel said he understands the jail has questions regarding his intoxication level. Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills filed a motion asking that Libbee be held without bail pending revocation of his pretrial release. Mills explained Libbee was arrested Monday and had been charged with several felonies, including alluding arrest, stealing a vehicle, and possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. Judge Stockard ordered Libbee held without bail and continued the arraignment to a later date.   

Shawn Bradley Brown, in custody, appeared for sentencing on the charge of Attempt to Commit Burglary of a Business. APD Noel stated that per the plea agreement, Brown was ordered to make monthly payments; however, he was in jail in another jurisdiction, so that was not done. Noel requested his client be released on his own recognizance (OR). Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford told the court the state needs time to make victim notification. She had no objection to the OR. Judge Stockard granted the OR with the condition of Court Services supervision with daily check-ins and random drug testing. Should Brown be returned to custody, bail will be set at $25,000. Sentencing was set for August 6.   

Jeremy Shawne Dixon, in custody, appeared for sentencing on Non-support of a Spouse, Former Spouse, or a Child. DDA Chelsea Sanford asked the court to send a message that Dixon’s obligations to the court cannot be ignored, nor can his obligations to his children. Sanford acknowledged Dixon is taking care of his elderly mother; however, he must support his children as well. Sanford asked the court to grant Dixon probation on a maximum suspended sentence with the condition that he serve 30 days in jail. She requested that upon his release, Dixon pay a minimum of $407 monthly and obtain gainful employment. If he fails to comply, Sandford further asked that Dixon be ordered to serve weekends in jail until he secures employment. “He is an older man. Time to own up to his problems and move forward.”   

Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer said his client understands the gravity of what he has done to himself and that he has struggled with methamphetamine addiction for 20 years. According to Sommer, Dixon has started to get a grasp on that, and he looks back on those years with a great deal of shame. Sommer said Dixon does plan to be gainfully employed and is working on it. However, he does not have a vehicle, so getting back to Churchill to serve weekends in jail would be difficult.

Dixon has been in jail for two and a half months, said Sommer, who believes Dixon has learned a lesson and another 30 days would not advance his client. His plan moving forward if the court gives him that privilege – and he knows it is, is to look for employment. A sentence hanging over his head would provide a great deal of incentive.

Dixon apologized to the court, the county, his children, and their mother. He said he missed his children growing stating, “I am truly sorry for that and for more.” Dixon said his wrongdoings are unacceptable, and they led him to depression and drug use, which led to poor decisions. He said he can only redeem himself by fulfilling his obligations.

Judge Stockard placed Dixon on probation for two years on a suspended prison sentence of 24-60 months. In addition to standard conditions of probation, Dixon must obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations. Further, he must make monthly payments of not less than $407. Should he get in arrears more than 60 days, he is to be brought back to court on a technical violation. No good-time credit will be applied if he is not current on payments. “I agree you are worthy of redemption, but only you can be capable of your own redemption,” Stockard told Dixon.

 Dereck Kyle Vradenburg-Wheeler failed to appear for sentencing on the charge of Attempt to Commit Burglary of a Business. A $25,000 cash-only warrant was issued.