CRIME CORNER
One man was arrested last week on charges of possessing methamphetamine and heroin after he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance when police made contact with him as part of an unrelated investigation.
According to a declaration of arrest in the case, Friday afternoon Nye County Sheriff’s deputies reported to a home in the 400 block of Erin Court to assist a detective with an investigation.
During the course of that investigation, they came into contact with a man named Samuel Pringle, who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. They also reportedly found in plain sight in a van Pringle allegedly admitted he drove to the scene, what appeared to be drug paraphernalia, specifically a glass methamphetamine pipe in the center console, and immediately applied for a search warrant for the home and van.
In their search, police reportedly found several grams of methamphetamine, heroin, drug paraphernalia, a scale and packaging consistent with what is used in the sale of narcotics.
Pringle was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Nye County Detention Center. There he was booked into custody on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, three counts of unlawful use of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His bail was set at $35,637 and a drug test in the jail allegedly tested presumptive positive for Pringle having methamphetamine, opiates and marijuana in his system.
COURTS: Man taks plea deal in sex assault
One man took a plea deal in a sexual coercion case this week in District Court after DNA tests reportedly came back positive showing his DNA was found on the victim.
Francisco Ferez, 40, pleaded guilty pursuant to Alford — a plea defendants use when they do not wish to admit guilt, but would like to take a plea deal — to a single charge of coercion, sexually motivated, a category B felony on Monday.
His defense attorney said Ferez was taking the deal to avoid a possible life sentence should a jury convict him at trial because of the kind of evidence the state had in its possession.
The attorney said they would have argued that the incident between he and the 18-year-old victim was a drunken, but consensual encounter, not an assault.
The case was planned to go to trial later this month had Ferez not taken the plea deal.
He is scheduled to be back in court Oct. 21 to be sentenced in the case.
COPS: Drugs, stolen car and bank theft keep woman jailed
A woman arrested for driving a stolen vehicle last week was also charged by police with allegedly stealing her former roommate’s checkbook and credit card and attempting to use them in Las Vegas.
According to a declaration of arrest in the case, early Friday morning around 4:45 a.m. a deputy stopped a maroon-colored Hyundai with a tail light out.
When he went to make contact with the driver, he identified her as Michelle Orton and immediately recognized the name as someone who had active warrants out for her arrest.
As the officer had Orton step out of the vehicle, police dispatch informed him that the car she was driving had actually been reported stolen out of Las Vegas. When the deputy asked Orton who the car belonged to, she allegedly would only tell him it belonged to a friend.
Orton was subsequently arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody.
Once there, it was also reportedly discovered after a female officer searched the woman during her intake that Orton had five yellow rectangular pills on her identified as Alprazolam, three circular green pills identified as Clonazepam and a bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine. She was additionally booked on charges relating to the discovery of the substances as well.
The following evening, another deputy was asked to speak with a Pahrump woman, who explained Orton had resided with her at her apartment on Potro Drive during the month of May.
On May 25, the woman said she gave her roommate a ride to Las Vegas and when she returned home, she discovered a credit card and a check book were missing from her bedroom.
She said she then also discovered there were approximately four fraudulent charges on her bank account that occurred at a Walmart, Rebel gas station and CVS in Las Vegas.
In addition to those charges, the victim told the officer $400 was taken from her checking account.
The deputy went to the local detention center to speak with Orton, who was still in custody, at which time she denied having anything to do with the missing funds.
After he confronted her with the bank statements showing the fraudulent charges, she allegedly admitted to using her roommate’s credit card.
COPS: Man racks up credit card charges on mom’s account
A woman’s son was arrested last week after he reportedly racked up more than $3,200 in charges on her credit card without her permission.
On June 26, the sheriff’s office received a call from the victim stating she had lent her son, Steven Proa, her credit card for a one-time use to purchase something at the store because she couldn’t make it there herself.
The woman said Proa never returned with the card and she soon after received a statement in the mail showing he had allegedly placed more than $3,200 worth of charges on the card.
She further told police Proa was living with her up until June 22, at which time he left and she had not been able to get in contact with him since.
After she made the report, a deputy went to speak with Proa about the allegations his mother had made regarding him illegally using her credit card.
The officer then placed Proa under arrest for receive property/services by unlawful use of credit card, larceny from elderly/vulnerable person and embezzlement from elderly/vulnerable person. He was then transported to the local jail to be booked into custody.
