Justice Court New River Township Justice Court convened Thursday, Feb. 19, in Fallon with Judge Benjamin Trotter presiding.

New River Township Justice Court convened Thursday, Feb. 19, in Fallon with Judge Benjamin Trotter presiding. 

Hannah Ward pleaded guilty to DUI second offense, a misdemeanor, and driving with a license canceled, revoked, or suspended, a misdemeanor. The court accepted the pleas and set sentencing for April 16, 2027, at 8:30 a.m., so the defendant can obtain a substance abuse evaluation.

Cameo Baltazar pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failing to give immediate notice of a property-damage accident to police. The court dismissed count two, ordered $230 restitution to be paid to the court for CC Communications for damaging an equipment box while driving, and imposed a $500 fine plus $140 assessment, for a total of $640. The court ordered restitution to be paid in full within 30 days, then set a payment plan of $50 per month toward the fine, due by the 20th of each month.

Michael Wiseman appeared for a restitution hearing. The court continued the matter to March 5, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., for the defendant to provide additional medical documentation as to why he is behind on restitution payments from a 2022 traffic case involving an accident that resulted in injuries.

Andrew White appeared via Zoom on a bench warrant stemming from a failure to appear for trial on a first-offense DUI. The court set the matter for April 16, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., for the defendant to submit a completed DUI admonishment and obtain a substance abuse evaluation.

Terry Lee Derringer was arraigned on four misdemeanor counts and entered a not guilty plea. Charges include failure to stop on the signal of a peace officer, driving while license canceled, revoked, or suspended, no proof of insurance, and displaying or possessing fictitious, canceled, revoked, suspended, or altered registration, license plate, or title. The court appointed the Churchill County Public Defender’s Office and set a status hearing for Feb. 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

Michelle Barajas did not appear for sentencing and a first offense DUI. The court issued a bench warrant for failure to appear, Nevada only, cash only, in addition to a previously active warrant.

William Lysak appeared regarding unpaid fines totaling $1,640 for cases from 2017, 2019, and 2021. Judge Trotter ordered the fines served with 13 days in custody and ordered the cases closed upon completion, with a release date of March 2, 2026, at noon.

Anthony Ortega appeared via Zoom from jail with his attorney for status in two cases, one from 2024 alleging a charge of Allow Child Abuse or Neglect (Endangerment), first offense, and a new charge of resisting arrest.

In the current case, Ortega pleaded guilty to resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer, a misdemeanor. Judge Stockard sentenced him to five days in jail and credited him with time served, making him eligible for release at 5 p.m. Feb. 19, 2026.

The court set the older case for Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m. for further proceedings, and ordered an updated bail order removing the additional bail amount tied to the newer misdemeanor, leaving bail in place on the older case.

Teasha Arik Rupley appeared in custody with Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer on charges of Battery on a Peace Officer, two counts of Use or Possess Drug Paraphernalia, two counts of Allow Child Abuse or Neglect (Endangerment), and Resisting a Public Officer. The court continued all cases to March 12, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Courtney Clark pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance, both misdemeanors, and to petty larceny as amended, a misdemeanor, and to failure to appear, a misdemeanor. The court accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 10, 2026, at 11 a.m., to allow for victim notification and to align with district court scheduling. The court also addressed two older traffic cases from 2022 and 2023, and credited seven days for time served toward the fines, closing those cases. The court ordered the defendant released on her justice court matters and ordered her released from justice court supervision by Court Services.