Former prosecutor pleads guilty to drug charges

The man whose job involved prosecuting criminals accepted his own guilty plea agreement before Judge Robert Lane on Monday.

Timothy Ryan Treffinger, 29, who prosecuted criminal cases in Nye, Esmeralda, and Mineral counties for the state Attorney General, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance following his arrest earlier this year on heroin charges.

Lane said the guilty plea agreement indicates Treffinger pleaded to a category "D" felony, which can carry up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

"When it comes time to sentence you, I'm free to do what I think is the right thing and if I wanted to I could give you the maximum sentence in prison," the judge told Treffinger and defense attorney Tom Gibson. "The defense is going to recommend a diversion program and in this case, mandatory probation."

Lane accepted Treffinger's guilty plea and set sentencing for Jan. 11.

Treffinger was arrested with Jesse James Lewis, 37, after a search warrant was served at his Alfano Avenue residence in May.

The month-long investigation indicated that narcotics were being used and sold from the residence, according to police.

Both Treffinger and Lewis were found in the residence at the time of the search, which produced heroin and various types of drug paraphernalia, including several small baggies with residue, metal spoons with residue, used syringes, tin foil with burn marks and glass pipes with methamphetamine residue, police said.

Drug paraphernalia was found in every room of the residence, police records state.

Lewis tried to conceal and destroy heroin that he had in his possession when he was arrested, in addition to being under the influence of several types of narcotics at the time, according to the sheriff's office.

Upon arriving at the Nye County Sheriff's Office, Lewis was given a urine test, which presumptively tested positive for methamphetamine, opiates, and THC.

It was determined that Treffinger was the primary resident of the house, and Lewis was also an occupant at the residence.

At the time, the state attorney general issued a statement on Treffinger's arrest.

"This individual was first employed by the AG's office on August 27, 2013. On January 14, 2015, approximately nine days into AG Laxalt's administration, this individual separated from employment with this office. Any further details contained within his personnel file are confidential pursuant to Nevada law."

The office did not directly answer if Treffinger was under investigation for any behavior during his time with the office, or if any of his cases were being reviewed.

Lewis, meanwhile, failed to show up for his for his sentencing on Sept. 21 of this year.

He is now being sought on a nationwide bench warrant.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. Find him on Twitter: @sharrispvt.