Leanna Lehman
New River Township Justice Court in Fallon convened Thursday, April 3 with Judge Benjamin Trotter presiding.
Cynthia Fletcher appeared for sentencing on a charge of Petit Larceny, to which she pleaded no contest on March 10, 2025.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford submitted a victim letter, filed for use at sentencing, which indicated that the incident felt personal to the victim, who had once been friends with Fletcher. Sanford noted there was no restitution, as Fletcher returned the stolen property.
Fletcher addressed the court, claiming she believed the property had been abandoned and had intended to return it. Judge Trotter sentenced Fletcher to pay a $100 fine plus a $95 assessment, totaling $195. He ordered her to 10 days in jail, suspended for two years, contingent upon full payment of the fine within four months and no further criminal violations.
Dean McGee pleaded no contest to one count of petty larceny, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The charge stemmed from the same incident as Fletcher’s case, involving property taken from a former friend.
The state requested a sentence identical to Fletcher’s: 10 days in jail, suspended for two years, and $195 in fines and fees. Judge Trotter adopted the recommendation and allowed McGee four months to pay the amount in full.
Michael Weisman appeared for a civil restitution review hearing from a previous conviction with nearly $100,000 in restitution ordered. Weisman reported ongoing medical issues and said he expects to be cleared by his doctor for work following a July 29 echocardiogram. Weisman stated he has no income beyond $292 per month in food stamps and lives in his parent’s guest house. He said his vehicle is a 2012 Dodge Avenger with over 300,000 miles and has no other assets.
The state requested monthly reporting and a signed financial disclosure, citing concerns about accountability and restitution progress. Judge Trotter set the next hearing for July 31 and reminded Weisman that restitution is a continuing condition of his sentence.
Autumn Castleberry appeared for an initial appearance on two charges: Failure to Appear after release, a Category D felony punishable by 1–4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000, and Embezzlement of more than $100,000, a Category B felony punishable by 1–10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 or twice the value of the property embezzled.
The failure to appear charge alleges Castleberry missed an August 2024 sentencing hearing in District Court and failed to surrender within 30 days. The embezzlement charge alleges she took over $100,000 from the estate of Craig Smith between late 2021 and mid-2022.
Castleberry reported earning about $3,500 per month and supporting two children. The court found her eligible for appointed counsel and assigned Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer to represent her.
Due to an active District Court warrant, the defense did not address custody arguments. Judge Trotter explained that bail totaled $60,000 cash and $10,000 bondable across both jurisdictions. A status hearing was set for April 10 at 8:30 a.m. if Castleberry is released or 10 a.m. if she remains in custody.
Robert Nicholson appeared for a hearing regarding representation and a pending preliminary hearing. After two prior attorneys withdrew, he requested a two-week continuance, stating he was trying to retain Steve Evenson, Esq.
The state opposed the continuance, citing ongoing delays and hardship to subpoenaed victims. Judge Trotter declined to appoint a public defender based on Nicholson’s statement that he could afford counsel. The preliminary hearing was vacated and reset for a status review on April 24 at 8:30 a.m. Nicholson was advised to ensure his retained attorney files a notice of representation or contacts the court if an earlier appearance is needed.
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