Crime Corner, March 25

Man jailed for drunk driving, had lengthy history

Wayne Bellina was jailed on March 19 and charged with driving under the influence, obstruction and resisting arrest after deputies with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of a suspected drunk driver in the area of Blagg Road and Mesquite Avenue.

According to a declaration of arrest, a citizen reported observing a vehicle traveling at excessive speeds and driving off the roadway and into oncoming traffic. Deputies subsequently located the vehicle at the intersection of Blosser Ranch Road and Balzar Street and conducted a traffic stop.

When deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Bellina, they noted he was unsteady on his feet as he exited the vehicle. Bellina had difficulty obeying verbal commands and was placed in handcuffs for officer safety.

As deputies attempted to place Bellina in handcuffs, he reportedly began to pull away in an effort to avoid being handcuffed. After Bellina was placed in handcuffs, deputies observed that his eyes were watery and glassy and when he spoke, Bellina smelled of an unknown intoxicating liquor coming from his person.

Deputies reportedly observed a bottle of “Hiram Walker” peppermint schnapps on the passenger side of the vehicle. When asked if he would be willing to participate in field sobriety tests, Bellina refused.

Bellina reportedly continued to be combative at the jail and a telephonic search warrant was obtained for two blood samples.

Deputies noted that a records check revealed that Bellina had six prior DUI convictions from 1976 to 1978 and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer from 1973 to 2011.

Man arrested on child abuse, rape and lewdness charges

Chad Lee Richter was arrested on March 21 and charged with lewdness with a minor, rape (digitally) and child abuse after detectives with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office received a courtesy report from the Boulder City Police Department.

The Boulder City Police Department report stated that Richter had allegedly molested his girlfriend’s four-year-old daughter in Pahrump within the previous two years.

After a forensic interview was conducted with the minor victim, it was determined that Richter had touched the minor victim inappropriately, using his fingers. Detectives noted the minor child has been living outside of the home since the allegations surfaced.

Richter is currently on probation/parole for violating the controlled substance act, according to the declaration of arrest.

Man jailed for drunk driving, drugs after hitting pole

Christopher Allen Franz was jailed on March 19 and charged with driving under the influence with accident, fail to maintain lane, possession of a controlled substance and under the influence of a controlled substance after deputies were dispatched to a report of a single vehicle accident at an address on East Calvada Boulevard.

When deputies arrived, they reportedly observed a van with extensive front end damage and a utility pole still wrapped around the vehicle in the front lawn of the apartments.

Deputies made contact with a passenger who reportedly was walking around aimlessly and appeared to be searching for someone.

The passenger reportedly told deputies that he was looking for his “brother,” the driver of the vehicle. As deputies were speaking to the passenger, they reportedly noticed a man walking around behind the apartment complex who was subsequently identified as Franz.

When deputies made contact with Franz, they noted that he had a slow, unsteady gate as he walked towards the deputies. When Franz stopped, deputies noticed that he began to sway from side to side and was unable to fully stand up without resting on the small property wall behind him.

Deputies smelled the odor of an unknown intoxicating liquor emanating from Franz as he stood in front of the deputies. Both men denied treatment by paramedics at the scene.

Franz admitted to driving the vehicle, losing control and running off the road, into and over the light pole. Franz reportedly stated that he had consumed, “a few beers and a margarita,” earlier at a local casino.

Franz was not able to perform any standard field sobriety tests because he reportedly told deputies he takes Lortab and had taken at least three pills the day of the accident.

Franz was subsequently arrested and transported to the Nye County Detention Center and booked on charges of driving under the influence, fail to maintain lane, possession of a controlled substance and under the influence of a controlled substance.

During a search of Franz at the jail, deputies reportedly recovered three small, yellow, rectangular pills loose in Franz’s front pocket. Those pills were later identified as Alprazolam, a prescription only drug.

Compiled from Nye County Sheriff’s Office incident reports by reporter Michelle Hermann. Contact her at michelle.pvtimes@gmail.com.