Crime Corner, Feb. 20

Woman jailed for possession of drugs

Leslie Ceclia Vega-Giraldi was jailed on Feb. 12 and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic device after Nye County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Bruce Street regarding a domestic dispute.

When deputies made contact with the reporting party, he reportedly stated that he and his girlfriend, subsequently identified as Giraldi, were having a verbal argument but that nothing physical happened and she left the residence, walking towards LJ’s Market at the intersection of Manse Road and Pahrump Valley Boulevard.

Deputies subsequently located Giraldi at LJ’s Market and reportedly witnessed her throw a cosmetic bag into a trash container inside the store. When deputies took the bag out of the trash, Giraldi reportedly became extremely upset and stated she was going to jail and attempted to walk away.

When questioned about why she would make such a statement, Giraldi reportedly said that there were needles in the bag that belonged to her.

Deputies searched the cosmetic bag and reportedly found multiple syringes, cotton and a spoon. A search of Giraldi’s purse revealed aluminum foil wrapped around a glass pipe and suspected marijuana. Giraldi reportedly stated that inside a small blue baggie was “speed.”

Giraldi was subsequently arrested and transported to the Nye County Detention Center and booked. While at the jail, Giraldi reportedly said she wanted help getting off drugs, explaining that she is the sole provider of her household.

Man jailed for kidnapping, domestic violence

Steven Albert Monheim was jailed on Feb. 10 and charged with battery-domestic violence and 2nd degree kidnapping after troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a report of a domestic disturbance in a vehicle on U.S. Highway 95 in the area of mile marker 62 in Nye County.

A witness had contacted the police and reported that he had witnessed a man, later identified as Monheim, dragging a woman down an embankment and forcing her into the car.

The witness reportedly heard the victim state, “You’ve hurt me too many times. I’m not going with you,” before she was dragged into the vehicle by Monheim.

The witness reportedly told troopers that he saw Monheim dragging the victim down an embankment as she was attempting to break free from his grasp. The witness also stated that he saw Monheim using both his arms to hold the victim around her head and shoulders.

Troopers made contact with Monheim and asked what happened. Monheim reportedly stated that he and the victim were stopped on the side of the road because they were having an argument about their relationship. Troopers explained to Monheim that a witness had allegedly seen Monheim forcing the victim into his vehicle, against her will.

When troopers spoke with the victim, she reportedly stated that she and Monheim had an argument. Troopers noted in the arrest report that they had difficulty speaking with the victim due to a language barrier.

Troopers noted that the victim made admissions that Monheim had allegedly grabbed her and that she did not want to get back into his vehicle.

Monheim was arrested and transported to the jail and booked on charges of domestic battery and 2nd degree kidnapping.

Compiled from Nye County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada Highway Patrol incident reports for the Pahrump Valley Times by reporter Michelle Hermann. Contact the reporter at michelle.pvtimes@gmail.com.