Tenth Judicial District Court The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, August 25, with Judge William Maddox presiding.

The Tenth Judicial District Court convened Tuesday, August 25, with Judge William Maddox presiding.

Vincent Allen Austin was arraigned on a charge of Battery on an Officer. Austin pleaded guilty to the gross misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford asked for the maximum jail sentence so that the defendant could “learn his lesson about how not to do this conduct in the future.”

Sanford said the state feels Austin is not worthy of probation. She noted that he is a very large man and “was all liquored up” with a blood alcohol level of 0.234. She said, “He was barely able to stand on his own and slapped the hand of a law enforcement officer. The officer warned Austin not to strike him. The defendant became mean and uncooperative and put both hands on the officer’s chest and shoved him.”

Sanford added, “The defendant voluntarily got himself to this intoxication level.” She told the court that she understands “this defendant does not think he has a problem with alcohol, but everything else says so.” If Austin were granted probation, Sanford asked that he be ordered to enter and complete the Western Regional Drug Court.

Churchill County Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel agreed that alcohol is the root of the problem. “When alcohol is the underlying factor in criminal conduct, I think the court has to make determination of what is the best way to make sure that person deals with the alcohol issue,” he said.

Noel noted the state had offered one solution, which was to put Austin in jail for a year. He did not feel this was necessary because his client “has been on pretrial Court Services for the past two months with no positive tests.”

Austin told Judge Maddox he is trying to do better and had no objection to being placed in Drug Court.

Maddox sentenced Austin to 180 days in jail, suspended the sentence, and placed him on probation with the condition that he enter and complete Drug Court. Maddox also ordered Austin to obtain full-time employment or provide proof that he is trying to do so.

Maddox told Austin, “Here’s your chance ... you have a problem with drinking whether you want to admit it or not.”

William Kimo Lysaght pleaded guilty to the wobbler charge of Attempt to Commit Convicted Sex Offender Violating Registration. Lysaght may be sentenced as either a gross misdemeanor or a Category E felony. The factual basis given was that Lysaght provided an incorrect address because he was homeless and should have registered as homeless.

Judge Maddox ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation Report and set sentencing for Oct. 20.

Lydia Anne Page Chenoweth pleaded guilty to the Category B Felony of Ownership or Possession of a Firearm by Certain Prohibited Persons, punishable by 12–72 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Judge Maddox ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation Report and set sentencing for Oct. 27.