Crime Corner, July 10

Man charged with domestic battery, sex offender fail to register

Robert Michael Smith was arrested on June 30 and faces a preliminary charge of domestic battery after deputies with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of a domestic battery in progress in the area of Blagg and Basin roads.

Deputies subsequently made contact with the victim who reportedly said that she and her boyfriend, identified as Smith, had been in a verbal altercation inside her vehicle and Smith allegedly became violent and began hitting her.

According to the arrest report, deputies noted seeing several bruises on the victim’s chin. The victim reportedly told deputies that the argument had started the night before but that deputies had been unable to make contact with Smith at that time.

Smith was later contacted and reportedly admitted that a fight had taken place but that the victim hit him as well. Smith refused to elaborate on what the fight was about but did admit it was physical.

Smith was arrested and transported to the Nye County Detention Center and booked and held on $3,000 bond.

Smith was rebooked on July 2 and faces a preliminary charge of fail to obey laws and regulations regarding registration of sex offender, first offense.

While being booked on the domestic battery charge, Smith reportedly informed the detention deputies that he had a sex offense out of the state of Oregon. When deputies made contact with the Oregon State Police, it was confirmed that Smith had an active warrant out of Oregon for failure to update his registration for a conviction of first degree sodomy, a class A felony. Deputies confirmed with the Oregon State Police that Smith was still under supervision. According to the arrest report, deputies learned that Oregon would not grant an extraditable warrant nationwide for Smith’s arrest.

Smith reportedly admitted that he has been living in the state of Nevada for a period over six months and gave an address in Amargosa, Nevada. Smith then said he had been living at the Tough Boy RV Park for a two-week period and planned to leave the state as soon as he was released from custody.

However, after deputies made contact with the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation they reportedly told deputies to rebook Smith for the charge of failure to register as a sex offender.

Smith was booked and held on an additional bond amount of $5,000.

Husband, wife jailed for using debit card without consent

Jacqueline Ann Wall and Christopher Ross Turpin were jailed on July 4 for multiple charges related to petit larceny and obtaining money by false pretenses after deputies responded to a complaint at the front office involving a possible fraud.

The victim reportedly said that someone had stolen her debit card and made several purchases with it. The victim explained she left her card at Kentucky Fried Chicken on Highway 372 when she was out to dinner on July 2. The victim said that the cashier at the KFC was Jacqueline Wall and they did not get along with each other.

The victim said she called her bank and discovered that there was a transaction at Walmart in the amount of $276.45 on July 3 as well as two additional transactions at the Smith’s Fuel Center for $1 each and another transaction at the Rebel Gas Station for $24.27.

Deputies subsequently made contact with the asset protection officer at Walmart and viewed surveillance video which reportedly showed a female wearing a KFC uniform in the checkout line.

According to the arrest report, deputies recognized the woman as Wall through previous calls for service. Deputies made contact with Wall at a residence on San Lorenzo Street, and Wall reportedly said that when she found out the card was declined she immediately cut it in half and threw it away.

Wall told deputies that her husband, identified as Turpin, knew about the stolen debit card and also assisted her with the purchases.

Wall was arrested and transported to the jail and booked on charges of obtain money by false pretenses, first degree burglary, obtain/possess debit card without owner’s consent, use debit card without owner’s consent, petit larceny, attempted petit larceny and conspiracy to commit petit larceny. She was held on $19,420 bond.

When deputies made contact with Turpin at a local sandwich shop he reportedly admitted that he knew Wall had stolen the card and he used the card anyway in an attempt to receive more money.

Deputies noted in the arrest report that they observed Turpin on video surveillance inside Walmart with Wall trying to purchase items with the stolen card.

Turpin was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit petit larceny, use debit card without owner’s consent and petit larceny. He was held on $8,140 bond.

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