District Court May 19

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened on Tuesday, May 19, with Judge Thomas Stockard presiding.

Jordan Randolph Gilbert pleaded not guilty to Category A Felony of Lewdness with a Minor Under the Age of 14, punishable by life with the possibility of parole after 10 years and a fine up to $10,000. The offense is not probationable and also carries sex offender registration and lifetime supervision requirements.

The defense agreed to a criminal settlement conference, at which time the state and defense will present their cases to a senior district court judge from another jurisdiction. If Gilbert then enters a guilty plea, the matter will move forward for sentencing. If not, the case will move to trial, which has been set for Oct. 5 through Oct. 9.

Nicole Marie Griffin appeared for sentencing on Gross Misdemeanor of Battery on an Officer, Provider of Health Care, School Employee, Taxicab Driver, Transit Operator, or Sports Official, to which she pleaded guilty in April.

Chief Deputy District Attorney (CDDA) Lane Mills began the state’s argument, stating, “This case involves this defendant at the hospital and she kicked one of our health care workers in the face.” Mills said Griffin was experiencing behavioral health issues at the time, and according to her evaluation, Griffin suffers from serious issues and substance abuse problems. He noted she has no employment history and is “living off the hardworking taxpayers of this country and this county, and the goodwill of her family.” 

Mills said that the state did not object to placing Griffin in Western Nevada Regional Specialty Court, but requested that behavioral health concerns remain a focus and asked the court to require her to obtain employment.

Defense Attorney Charles Woodman agreed, saying, “as stated by Mr. Mills, there is a co-occurring dual situation going on.” Woodman said his client is more concerned with addressing her behavioral health issues and believes drug testing through Specialty Court would help her.

Woodman noted Griffin helps care for her grandmother, which could affect the number of hours she is able to work. He said she has issues she wants to work through and stated he believes she can succeed. Regarding the battery charge, Woodman said Griffin has no memory of kicking the nurse due to the substances she had ingested and her mental state at the time.

Judge Stockard deferred sentencing and placed Griffin on probation with the conditions that she enter and complete the Specialty Court program and obtain full-time employment once her medical issues are addressed.

Anthony Robert Ortega failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing on the Gross Misdemeanor charge of Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child Not Causing Substantial Bodily Harm for the third consecutive week. Judge Stockard issued a $50,000 cash-only warrant.

William Eugene Berreman, in custody, pleaded guilty to Gross Misdemeanor of Injury to Other Property, causing $250–$5,000 in damages, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Senior Deputy District Attorney (SDDA) Chelsea Sanford requested a suspended 364-day jail sentence and that Berreman be placed on probation with the additional condition that he pay $3,725.79 in restitution within 10 months. Sanford said the defendant had dated a woman for about three months before they broke up. Later, when he saw her with another man, he reacted by breaking the windows of the man’s truck.

Churchill County Alternate Public Defender (APD) Wright Noel told the court that his client wants to make things right after “a moment of indiscretion on his part,” and agreed with the state’s sentencing recommendation.

Berreman agreed to the restitution amount.

Judge Stockard granted Berreman probation on a suspended 364-day jail sentence with the condition that restitution be paid in full within 10 months. The defendant will receive no good time credit until restitution is paid.

David Jason Christy, in custody, pleaded guilty to two felony counts: Category D Felony of Failure to Stop on the Signal of a Police Officer, punishable by 1–6 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000; and Category E Felony of Changing, Altering, Removing, or Obliterating a Serial Number of a Firearm, punishable by 1–4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.

Judge Stockard ordered a Pre-Sentencing Investigation and set sentencing for Aug. 4.

Arianah Jade Rattling-Leaf, in custody, pleaded guilty to Category E Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine, less than 14 grams), a First or Second Offense, punishable by 1–4 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.

Churchill County Deputy Public Defender Kenneth Tedford III told the court, “This is a unique situation.” He said his client has remained in custody through “what's amounted to kind of a roller coaster of the last couple of months.” Tedford said the experience has been eye-opening for Rattling-Leaf regarding her relationship with substances, the situations she places herself in, and the people she surrounds herself with. He said Drug Court could provide the tools she needs to properly address future situations and asked Judge Stockard to admit his client into the program.

Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker said the state had no objection to the Rattling-Leaf applying for and completing Drug Court.

Rattling-Leaf told the court, “This whole case can be a lot … I can’t drive … I can't get certain jobs … I'm going to try to do better.”  She said she had several jobs, but due to family situations, she has not been able to keep a job, but that she would like to do Drug Court.

Fees and assessments were imposed. Judge Stockard suspended the proceedings and placed Rattling-Leaf on probation with the conditions that she enter and complete the Western Regional Drug Court, obtain employment of at least 25 hours a week, and obtain a behavioral health evaluation.

Jonathan Scott English, in custody, appeared on a technical probation violation. The court received a memorandum stating that the defendant voluntarily left the Western Nevada Regional Specialty Court program.

The matter was continued for one week to allow English additional time to discuss the case with his attorney.