Crime Corner, April 22

Woman jailed for 3rd DUI

Steffanie Bray was jailed on April 11 and charged with driving under the influence – third offense and possession of marijuana less than one ounce after deputies with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a traffic accident at the intersection of Highway 160 and Postal Road.

Deputies learned the driver, identified as Bray, had reportedly hit another vehicle head-on. A witness at the scene reportedly told deputies that he had been following Bray from the Mountain Springs Summit and called Nevada Highway Patrol because Bray was “all over the road.”

When deputies spoke with Bray, she reportedly told them she was “very tired” and that she “ran into the guard rail” at the top of the summit. Bray could not explain why she did not notify police about the guard rail accident. Bray was questioned about whether she had taken any medications and she stated, “Yes, I took three of my Lortabs.” Deputies asked how strong the Lortabs were and Bray stated they were 10 milligrams. Bray said she had ingested the pills at approximately 9 a.m. the morning of the accident.

Bray also admitted to deputies she took some sleeping pills the night before and had consumed a five-hour energy drink while she was driving to keep her awake.

Deputies subsequently had Bray perform field sobriety tests which she failed.

According to the declaration of arrest, Bray has two prior convictions for driving under the influence within the past six years.

When deputies inventoried Bray’s vehicle they reportedly found a large bag of a green leafy substance of suspected marijuana and a large amount of pills which were subsequently identified as Oxycodone. Deputies noted that Bray does not have a prescription for the narcotics.

When questioned, Bray reportedly said she bought the marijuana for her boyfriend and she obtained the Oxycodone for her back pain from her friend.

Bray was subsequently arrested and transported to the Nye County Detention Center and booked on above charges.

Trip to the store lands man in jail for drugs

John Kennedy Ming, Jr. was jailed on April 13 and charged with possession of a controlled substance – heroin, possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance – marijuana after deputies noticed a truck parked in the fire lane at 300 S. Highway 160 in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

As deputies approached the truck they reportedly smelled a strong odor of suspected burning marijuana emanating from the open driver’s window. The driver, subsequently identified as John Kennedy Ming, Jr., was asked to produce the marijuana and he handed them a small cigarette or “roach.”

As deputies were speaking to Ming a woman exited the store and approached the vehicle and reportedly told deputies that Ming was waiting for her.

Deputies were notified by dispatch that Ming had two warrants for his arrest out of Nye County.

When deputies told Ming he was going to jail he reportedly asked the female to give him his cigarettes and for her to take possession of the truck.

Deputies searched the package of cigarettes and found a clear bag of a brown tar-like substance of suspected heroin and a small white crystalline substance of suspected methamphetamine. The white crystalline substance later tested positive for methamphetamine. The suspected heroin was placed into evidence and sent to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Crime Lab for analysis.

Ming was transported to the jail and booked on above charges.

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