Leanna Lehman
New River Township Justice Court in Fallon convened on Thursday, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26, with Judge Benjamin Trotter presiding. Matters from the Feb. 19 calendar were printed in the Feb. 27 edition of The Fallon Post.
Justin Matheus appeared in custody via Zoom and was arraigned on a charge from a Feb. 19 arrest for domestic battery by strangulation. The court appointed the Churchill County Public Defender’s Office, as Matheus is already represented in other pending cases. Counsel waived formal reading of the charges. Judge Trotter set all of Matheus’s cases for status on March 5, 2026, at 10 a.m., if he remains in custody.
Jonathon Keller appeared and entered a guilty plea to possession and use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Before sentencing was finalized, counsel clarified that the paraphernalia charge was part of another felony case. The court rescinded the plea and sentence on the misdemeanor and waived the entire case up to District Court.
In a separate case, Keller pleaded guilty to failure to appear, a misdemeanor. Judge Trotter sentenced him to 30 days in the Churchill County Jail, suspended for two years, with the condition that he have no further failures to appear or failures to comply in Churchill County during that period.
The court also addressed an outstanding $35 domestic violence fee from a 2024 case. Judge Trotter gave Keller 60 days to pay the balance in full, anticipating his release within approximately 30 days.
Feb 12. 2026 Docket
Ochoa Santillanes appeared for a status hearing. The court continued the matter to March 12.
Joshua Fernandez did not appear for a sentencing hearing. At the state’s request, the court issued a bench warrant.
Daniella Rafael Tamayo pleaded guilty to DUI first offense, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail with 28 days suspended for a period of three years. The court ordered the two days in jail to be served immediately. The court imposed a $585 fine plus a $340 assessment, for a total of $925. The court ordered her to complete DUI school and a victim impact panel.
Nicole Trauth pleaded guilty to DUI first offense, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 48 hours in jail. The court credited two days for time served. The court imposed a $585 fine plus a $340 assessment, for a total of $925, and ordered her to complete DUI school and a victim impact panel.
Michael Armstrong pleaded guilty to DUI first offense, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 48 hours in jail. The court credited two days’ time served. The court imposed a $585 fine plus a $340 assessment, for a total of $925, and ordered him to complete DUI school and a victim impact panel.
Nelson Williams pleaded guilty to driving on a revoked license, a misdemeanor, and failure to appear, a misdemeanor. The court imposed 30 days in jail on the driving on a revoked license charge, but allowed him to complete 60 days of house arrest in lieu of jail time, with 75 days to complete the house arrest. The court imposed a $500 fine plus a $140 assessment, for a total of $640, and credited $150 for time served, leaving a $490 balance. On the failure to appear charge, the court imposed 15 days in jail, suspended for a period of two years, on the conditions that he have no further failures to appear, no further driving without a valid license, insurance, or registration, and that he pay the fine in full within 12 months.
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