Teresa Moon
Timothy J. Fast, in custody, appeared for sentencing in the Tenth Judicial District Court in Fallon on Nov. 4 before Judge Thomas Stockard. On Oct. 7, Fast pleaded guilty to Offer, Attempt, or Commission of an Unauthorized Act Relating to a Controlled or Prohibited Substance, Second Offense, a Category B Felony punishable by 3-15 years in prison.
Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Priscilla Baker summarized the facts of the case. She said a Churchill County deputy stopped Fast for no license plate and no registration. During the traffic stop, a canine unit alerted, and officers found 67 grams of methamphetamine in rock form and .338 grams in liquid form.
According to Baker, at the time of Fast's arrest, he was on probation in Lyon County for selling both real and fake narcotics in 2024. The Third Judicial District Court granted him probation for possession of a controlled substance related to an arrest that yielded nine pills containing acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine, and methamphetamine, and 21 pills containing no controlled substances. After multiple Court Services violations and another possession arrest last July, Lyon County sentenced Fast to 19-48 months in prison on Oct. 27.
Baker argued, "This defendant clearly has a drug problem. But it's more than just a drug problem. He is a known seller of narcotics … repeated possession, sales, trafficking, prison sentences, repeated revocations and parole revocations. This is a drug dealer that uses." She said Fast "continues to sell controlled substances over, and over, and over."
The state asked for a sentence of 36-120 months in prison. Baker said, "We need to send a message to our community that we're not going to tolerate trafficking or sales of narcotics in our community." She noted this was a second offense and that under Nevada law, the defendant shall not be granted probation without mitigating circumstances.
Churchill County Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel, who asked the court to consider probation and an inpatient substance abuse program, argued that a substance abuse problem is a mitigating circumstance. He noted three mitigating circumstances in this case: 1) Fast has had a consistent and prolonged struggle with methamphetamine use; 2) he has struggled to get off methamphetamine; and 3) He did not have the intent to distribute the drugs.
Noel read from the police report, which noted officers "observed Mr. Fast engaging with a known narcotics distributor." Noel said his client was purchasing drugs for personal use when "he observed an undercover police officer across the street, and he mentioned that to the dealer." When Fast was pulled over immediately afterward, Noel said he was surprised by the amount of drugs in the car. He argued that the dealer, "knowing she was being tailed, dumped the drugs on him."
Fast apologized, telling the court, "I know that I messed up. I'm just asking for your help to help myself." He said he has been to prison four times, and it has not helped. "I'm owning up to my charges … I've never asked for help; I've been too prideful. I want to change."
Stockard said that while he found Fast eligible for probation, that "is different from whether I'm going to grant you that privilege given the record before me. And you're right, prison hasn't worked, but probation hasn't worked either." Upon considering all arguments and records before the court, Stockard denied probation and sentenced FAST to 24-72 months in prison, which will run concurrently to the Lyon County sentence.
Stockard encouraged Fast to work the programs in prison and remanded him to the custody of the Churchill County Jail for imposition of sentence.
Bradley Nelson Rogne, in custody, admitted to the Non-Technical Sentencing Violation of absconding from supervision.
Defense counsel for Rogne, Charles Woodman, told the court that when he first received the case, he had a long conversation with his client while in jail. Rogne told him, "I've had an out-of-control drug habit for too long."
Woodman explained that the court had previously granted him the privilege of probation, and he took off. "As much as he loved his freedom … he needed drugs more than he needed anything else at that point … we've learned over time how powerful addiction is, and how people will end up literally killing themselves because of their need for drugs."
Woodman told the judge they were working to secure a bed date for rehabilitation. He said that while "obviously he blew off his probation," one option would be to send him to prison, but another would be to delay a decision to allow time for treatment placement.
In asking for that option, Woodman said, "I know this young man needs help … He just does not fit the criminal type and profile of so many of the folks who come through this courtroom. Outside of his drug issue, he doesn't have any problems with the legal system."
Rogne told the court, "I take full responsibility for my actions, for what I have done."
Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Lane Mills began the state's argument by clarifying that "this is not a young man. Compared to Mr. Woodman and I he might appear young; but he's 37 years old." Mills said, "This is not a defendant that we need to infantilize and spoon feed what he really needs. He's an adult man."
Mills said Rogne was involved in a hit-and-run where someone was injured. From the victim impact statement, he read, "I hope he decides to change his ways before it's too late for him, or worse, someone else."
The state argued that the defendant "got an opportunity from the state and from the victim to do what was right." Mills said, "And what did he do? Did he pay a penny of restitution? No, not one penny. He couldn't even bother to pay a penny. Did he even bother to check in with his probation officer? Nope. Couldn't be bothered."
Mills added, "At some point, defendants are responsible for themselves … this defendant made his choice." He said the state concurred with the Division of Parole and Probation in asking that Rogne's probation be revoked.
Judge Stockard revoked Rogne's probation and imposed the underlying sentence of 72-180 months on the Category B Felony of Duty to Stop at the Scene of a Crash Causing Death or Personal Injury. Rogne was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Jail for imposition of sentence.
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