Crime Corner

COPS: Man, 19, arrested for sex with girl, 14

A 19-year-old man was arrested this week for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female after the girl told police the suspect had sex with her against her will in June.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, on Aug. 31 at approximately 11:45 p.m. a Nye County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a local home for a report of a sex offense.

When the officer arrived at the address, he spoke with the victim’s family who allegedly told him the 14-year-old girl had sex with a 19-year-old male named Mackenzie Ross.

The officer then spoke to the young female who reportedly said sometime in June of this year she and Ross had been alone together and were kissing when he forced her to have sex with him.

According to Ross’s arrest report, the girl told police she told him to stop and eventually she was able to push him off of her and told him to leave.

The deputy then went to speak with Ross, who allegedly admitted to having relations with the young girl, but stated the contact was consensual.

Ross also allegedly told the officer he was under the impression the girl was 16, the legal age of consent in Nevada, because that was what she had told him. It was only recently he said he learned she was actually 14.

Ross was subsequently taken into custody and booked into the Nye County Detention Center on a single charge of sexual assault against a child under the age of 16.

COPS: Man says he only had one beer, then recants

Police took one man into custody over the weekend after he was caught allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

On Saturday around 1:25 a.m. deputies reportedly pulled over a male, later identified as Luis Yepez, in the parking lot of Paddy’s Pub on Pahrump Valley Boulevard for a traffic offense.

When the officers attempted to make contact with Yepez, there was an apparent language barrier with the man, who only spoke Spanish. A third deputy was called to the scene to help translate.

Yepez, who allegedly smelled of alcohol, told police he drank only one beer that evening, before later recanting.

With the help of the translating officer, Yepez was given a series of field sobriety tests, which he allegedly failed.

He was subsequently placed under arrest for DUI and transported to the local jail to be booked into custody.

COURTS: Judge rewards addict who got and stayed clean

One woman was sentenced to a diversion program and given probation this week in District Court after a judge commended her for overcoming an opiate addiction and getting her life back in order.

Brandy Wright appeared in District Court Friday morning to be sentenced on charges of possession of a controlled substance and child abuse and neglect stemming from cases that began in 2010 and 2011.

Wright’s attorney Jason Earnest explained to the court that his client had a terrible drug addiction and had racked up approximately 17 cases in the local justice system because of it.

Since that time, he said, Wright had become clean and sober with the help of the Salvation Army and was even employed as a cook after putting herself through culinary school.

Presiding Judge Kimberly Wanker told Wright she wanted to commend the woman for getting her life in order and told Wright she should be proud of her accomplishments.

Because Wright had taken the steps to correct her past mistakes, Wanker said she would grant the defendant a diverted sentence on her possession of a controlled substance charge, meaning if she successfully completes three years of probation the charge will be dismissed.

“You aren’t someone who’s telling me what you’re going to do, you actually went out and did it, you should be proud of that,” the judge said.

Additionally Wright was formally convicted for the gross misdemeanor charge of child abuse and neglect and sentenced to three years probation to run concurrent to her diverted sentence as well.

As part of the plea deal, 15 other cases were dismissed.

COURTS: Judge sends woman

who stabbed boyfriend for mental check

A 23-year-old woman accused of stabbing her former boyfriend last month will be sent for a mental health evaluation in the case after her attorney told the court he had reservations about her ability to aid in her own defense.

Samantha Marquez appeared in District Court Friday morning on charges of invasion of the home, burglary and battery with use of a deadly weapon after she allegedly stabbed her ex-boyfriend in the back with a knife after breaking into his home.

Her attorney told Judge Kimberly Wanker after discussions with Marquez and members of her family he had doubts in her current state she could fully comprehend the charges against her or their consequences and said he didn’t believe she should help aid in her own defense.

Marquez, according to her family, has a long history of dealing with mental health issues, which she has allegedly made worse with drug use.

Judge Kimberly Wanker agreed to send Marquez for the evaluation and asked the attorney to file the necessary paperwork as soon as possible to expedite her evaluation.