Crime Corner

COPS: Man arrested for drunken hit and run

A man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly struck another vehicle while intoxicated on Highway 160 before driving off.

On Saturday around 9:20 p.m., Nye County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of Highway 160 and Boothill Drive for a report of a hit-and-run accident.

The suspect’s vehicle was described to officers as a blue Ford Ranger with New Mexico license plates.

Shortly after the call came in, a deputy conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle matching that description at the Horizon Market at 2050 N. Highway 160.

Police said the driver, identified as Virgil Pringle, immediately exited the vehicle after pulling over and seemed confused when he spoke to an officer on the scene.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, when a deputy asked him about the accident, Pringle replied he had no knowledge of being in an accident.

When the deputy asked if Pringle had been drinking that evening, the man allegedly replied he had a couple of beers several hours before that.

Pringle was then asked to submit to a series of field sobriety tests, which he allegedly failed.

Deputies with the victim further informed the officer who pulled Pringle over that there was a blue paint transfer on the victim’s vehicle where it had been hit. There was also allegedly damage to Pringle’s vehicle as well.

When the deputy searched Pringle’s car, he also allegedly found several open alcohol containers behind the driver’s seat as well as a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.

Virgil was placed under arrest for DUI, hit and run, open container, proof of insurance required and possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody.

COURTS: Man pleads guilty to attempted child seduction

A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty this week after being arrested for trying to lure a 14-year-old female he had been chatting with on Facebook to engage in sexual activities with him in March.

James Ross appeared in District Court Monday morning to be arraigned on a single charge of attempted statutory sexual seduction after accepting a plea deal in the case.

The offense can be sentenced as either a gross misdemeanor or a category D felony, but according to the plea deal, both the defense and prosecution agreed to have it treated as a felony.

Ross was first arrested March 17 after local police launched an investigation into a Facebook conversation he was allegedly having with a female who identified herself as being 14 years old.

In that conversation, police said Ross arranged for the young female to sneak out of her house to meet him at the LDS church, located near Wilson Road and West Street.

When officers arrived at the church to follow up on the information, they stopped and questioned the 22-year-old.

Ross allegedly told police he was there to meet a girl but denied having plans to do anything inappropriate with her.

When police subsequently searched his phone, they allegedly discovered the Facebook messages between Ross and the girl. Police said it was evident from their conversation that Ross intended to have sex her.

Ross was then placed under arrest and transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody, where he remained until Monday.

After Ross entered his plea before the court, Judge Robert Lane agreed to release him on his own recognizance with the condition that he stays away from the female he had been chatting with online.

Ross is scheduled to come back to court Aug. 18 for sentencing.