District Court Feb. 24

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, Feb. 24, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

James Nigg pleaded guilty to Attempt to Commit Manufacture, Importation, Possession, or Use of a Deadly Weapon or a Silencer. The offense is a wobbler, meaning it may be sentenced as either a Category D felony, punishable by 1–4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000, or as a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000. Judge Stockard ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) and set sentencing for May 5.

Charles Bowie Jr. did not appear for his scheduled status hearing regarding a Court Services violation. Wendy Bullock with Court Services reported they had not seen Bowie since Feb. 3 and that he previously violated by testing positive for alcohol. Defense Attorney Jeffrey Weed told the court he was surprised Bowie “just kind of fell off the map.” Judge Stockard issued a $2,500 cash-only arrest warrant.

Cecil Mark Riggs Jr., in custody, appeared for sentencing and disposition. On Dec. 16, Riggs pleaded guilty under special conditions to Category B Felony of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and to a Non-Technical Sentencing Violation. Defense Attorney Charles Woodman requested a two-week continuance, which Judge Stockard granted. The case was continued to March 10.

Courtney Elizabeth Clark, in custody, pleaded guilty to Principal to Grand Larceny of Personal Goods or Property valued at more than $1,200 but less than $5,000, a Category D felony punishable by 1–4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000. Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer stated that in December 2023, his client assisted others in taking property that did not belong to them. Judge Stockard accepted the joint recommendation for 24 months of probation, ordered a PSI, and set sentencing for May 5. The court continued sentencing to allow Clark to make payments toward $2,900 in restitution. Judge Stockard also granted Clark release on her own recognizance under Court Services supervision.

Debra Marie Davis, in custody, appeared for sentencing on the wobbler charge of Attempted Embezzlement of a value of $1,200 or more but less than $5,000. Wendy Bullock with Court Services reported that Davis failed to appear for testing on Feb. 11 and tested positive when she appeared in court Feb. 20. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford requested that the charge be sentenced as a felony and asked that Davis be placed on probation with the condition that she enter and complete the Western Regional Drug Court Program. Sanford stated the victim wants the defendant to receive help for her drug addiction.

Sanford told the court that Davis had been working on a ranch assisting an elderly woman who later died. The heirs allowed Davis to remain on the property for a limited time and permitted her to use the deceased woman’s vehicle. When she left the property, Davis took the vehicle with her. Law enforcement later stopped the vehicle and found Davis in possession of drug paraphernalia. Sanford noted Davis previously received probation with Drug Court, but did not complete the program. She stated this was Davis’s opportunity to “put her efforts where she’s saying she wants; rehabilitation, or not.”

Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer asked the court to sentence the charge as a gross misdemeanor with Drug Court as a condition of probation. Sommer said his client’s “behavior over the last couple of weeks has been inexcusable, but is explainable in the sense that it is exactly the kind of behavior that we would see from an addict.”

Davis apologized and told the court she hopes “that you can see in your heart to give me a chance.”

Judge Stockard sentenced the charge as a Category E felony and granted probation on a suspended 19–48-month prison sentence. He ordered Davis to obtain and follow the recommendations of a substance abuse evaluation and to enter and complete Drug Court.

Jose Carlos Trujillo, in custody, appeared for sentencing on Possession of a Controlled Substance, Low Level, and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or a Debit Card. Trujillo pleaded guilty to both charges in November 2023.

At the court’s request, Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker summarized the procedural history since November 2023, including multiple continuances. Baker cited Trujillo’s criminal history, which includes 15 convictions, three felonies, two gross misdemeanors, and eight incarcerations. She stated his history began in 2013 with convictions for stealing a vehicle and destroying property, followed by additional offenses including burglary, drug possession, resisting arrest, fraudulent use of a credit card, and multiple failures to appear.

Baker told the court, “This defendant, in his letter, indicates he strives to do the best he can, to hold himself to a higher standard, and that he promises that he will put his words into action. However, his actions thus far show that this court shouldn’t grant him probation.” She said the victim asked this court to please have Trujillo serve time for his crime. The state requested 24–60 months on Count I and 19–48 consecutive months on Count II.

Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer said, “Jose is going to be the first to tell you that his history and behavior, previous to this case and after it, he's made a mess of a lot of things. And there's no excuse for it.” Sommer stated that sometimes individuals “suddenly start to get it” and that “that may be the case here.” He noted Trujillo completed the New Frontier program, paid $555 in restitution, and has engaged in available resources while in custody. Sommer asked the court to follow the state’s recommended lengths of sentence but suspend them and place Trujillo on probation.

Trujillo told the court he is a drug addict and previously did not want to change. He said he completed the New Frontier program with intensity and that it changed his outlook. “Your Honor, you truly don’t know how you changed the trajectory of my life. And I truly hope you can forgive me for my actions,” Trujillo said.

Judge Stockard sentenced Trujillo to 19–60 months on Count I and 19–48 months on Count II, to run consecutively, for an aggregate sentence of 38–108 months in the Nevada State Prison. Trujillo was remanded to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff for imposition of sentence.