Justin Lee Overson, in custody, admitted to a non-technical sentencing violation for absconding from probation.
Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Lane Mills argued against the court reinstating Overson's probation, "Absent some compelling story from this defendant, we don't feel that he should be reinstated; he should be revoked based upon his total failure to even try."
Churchill County Alternate Public Defender (APD) Wright Noel responded, "The only argument we have here, Judge, is that there is still that active case in New Mexico." He explained that the court could impose a Nevada sentence or reinstate probation so that Overson could return to New Mexico and address the outstanding matter there. The defense requested reinstatement to allow Overson to resolve his issues in that state.
Judge Stockard revoked probation and imposed the underlying sentence of 12–32 months on a Category E felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), to which Overson pleaded guilty on July 16, 2024.
Ashlie Emalyn-Rainbow Shaw, in custody, admitted to a non-technical sentencing violation that included absconding for a significant period.
Senior Deputy District Attorney (SDDA) Chelsea Sanford told the court, "This defendant had her opportunity; her conduct has repeatedly shown she is not a viable candidate for supervision." Sanford said Shaw was found in a vehicle with several ex-felons, gave false identifying information during the stop, kicked an officer during her arrest, and possessed a fake BB gun. Sanford said Shaw was on probation as an ex-felon and had been out of jail for only 37 days before absconding.
"Everything she could do wrong, she did. She just didn't show up," Sanford said. She added that Shaw did not turn herself in or ask for help and that she would still be evading probation but for the arrest. "We can't tell if she's been doing good because she hasn't shown up," she said. "We can't tell if she's been trying to rebuild her life with jobs and so forth. At this point, we doubt anything she says because her history has shown she is not compliant."
APD Noel agreed that Shaw had not complied with her probation terms. However, he told the court she had been working with tribal substance abuse counselors and had secured a bed at the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. The defense asked that Shaw remain in custody until her placement at the Mission could be arranged.
Shaw addressed the court directly: "When I got arrested this time … I was just in a really dark spot in my life. I am very grateful I got arrested that morning." She accepted responsibility for absconding and said she now has a part-time job and believes the Reno Gospel Mission will help her turn things around.
Judge Stockard did not accept Noel's request for long-term inpatient treatment and modified the underlying sentence on the Category D felony of Battery by a Prisoner in Lawful Custody from 19–48 months to 12–48 months in the Nevada State Prison. Shaw was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of the sentence.
Tawnie June Miller, in custody, admitted to two non-technical sentencing violations across four cases, including absconding and failure to complete the Western Regional Drug Court program.
DDA Priscilla Baker reminded the Court that Miller had stolen checkbook information from a person over 60 and used it to pay bills. She then uttered forged instruments at both the Depot Casino and Walmart. The court had granted her release for inpatient treatment, which she completed, but she failed to appear for sentencing. That resulted in a felony charge of Failure to Appear. After being arrested a year later, she faced all four charges in 2022, which carried combined potential penalties of 8-48 years.
"This court could have easily sent this woman to prison in 2022," Baker said. "But this court gave her another opportunity and granted her probation." That probation was Drug Court conditional, which she failed to complete. "She just stopped coming to drug court, she stopped getting tested, she stopped doing anything on probation."
Baker also noted Miller failed to pay restitution and had absconded from November and December 2022 through all of 2023 and 2024. She was located in a Washoe County hospital after ingesting fentanyl. "We need justice… and we ask that this court revoke her [probation] entirely, without modification. Three strikes, she's out," Baker said.
Churchill County Public Defender (CCPD) Jacob Sommer acknowledged Miller's past but said she had been working at the Nugget in Reno for over a year and trying to stay sober. "Certainly she could have and should have done other things," Sommer said, "but she has been fighting very hard to maintain sobriety."
Sommer told the court that Miller began using methamphetamine at age 13 and has faced a long battle with addiction. He said she has been accepted into New Frontier Treatment Center and the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission, and asked the court to defer its decision for three months to allow her to enter Drug Court while in custody.
"I recognize that Ms. Miller doesn't deserve this chance based on her conduct," Sommer said. "But again, this is an opportunity for us as a community to try to address someone's addiction in a way that doesn't allow them to avoid the consequences but does allow them an opportunity."
Miller apologized to the District Attorney, the judge, and her victims. "I am a drug addict, and I do need help. I want help so bad. I've been clean for over a year," she said. "I hope to God that I get one more chance, and I will do it this time. I'm not going to run from this anymore."
Judge Stockard revoked probation and imposed the underlying sentences.
Autumn Nicole Castleberry, in custody, appeared for sentencing on one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), a Category E felony. She pleaded guilty in July 2024, and Judge Thomas Stockard noted the charge mandates probation under Nevada law.
Chief Deputy DA Lane Mills reminded the court that Castleberry had missed multiple hearings, including a suppression hearing and her August sentencing. “Drugs were found everywhere in the house,” he said, “her kids were in the house, meth in her purse.” Mills cited more than a dozen prior violations, including failures to appear and positive drug tests. “This Court should give her a year in jail as a condition of probation,” he argued. The state requested a suspended sentence of 12–48 months with 12 months in jail.
Charles Woodman, Esq., defense counsel for Castleberry, acknowledged her past behavior. “We can’t dispute anything,” he told the court, describing her as a woman battling addiction and serious health issues. “What we had here was a meth addict who is still loving using meth.” However, he said that changed in October, when Castleberry checked herself into rehab. “It was like a different person,” he said. She has now been clean six months, is working, has reunited with her teenage children in Reno, and is attending aftercare. “What a concept—stop using horrible drugs and your health improves,” Woodman said. He urged the court to avoid a full year in jail, calling it “counter-productive.”
Castleberry addressed the court directly: “I was a drug addict; I still am a drug addict; I’m just in recovery now.” She expressed remorse and said she is trying to live differently. “I want to be a member of society and not be a piece of sh**—pardon my French.”
Judge Stockard imposed a suspended sentence of 19–48 months in prison and placed Castleberry on probation for 18 months. She was ordered to obtain a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days. When Castleberry asked to enter Drug Court, Stockard declined, stating, “I’m just going to let you do your program.”
Continuances:
Steven Henry Gainey was not present as he is in Storey County custody. His arraignment was continued to April 22.
William Garnet Bergman's sentencing was continued to May 6 to allow time for Bergman to obtain a substance abuse evaluation. Judge Stockard ordered Bergman to cooperate with the Division of Parole and Probation on the Pre-Sentence Investigative Report.
Matthew Bernard Williams was not present for a sentencing violation hearing as he is currently in custody in Washoe County. His hearing was continued to May 6.
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