Former deputy AG Treffinger to accept felony drug plea

The former state deputy attorney general arrested on drug charges in June will plead guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Timothy Ryan Treffinger, 28, will now head to district court for sentencing on Nov. 2. He is facing up to 1-to-4 years in prison.

Treffinger was arrested along with Pahrump resident Jesse James Lewis, 36.

Both were originally charged with possession of a controlled substance/heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a residence for the sale/use of narcotics.

Lewis is scheduled for sentencing on Monday in district court.

Prosecutor Michael Vietta-Kabel said the state agreed to drop the additional charges Treffinger was facing, if the defendant pleaded guilty to the drug charges.

"At the district court level, Mr. Treffinger will be entering a plea of guilty on count two, possession of a controlled substance," he said. "In exchange, the state will be foregoing any other narcotics charges arising from these cases, and at the time of sentencing, the state will be making no recommendations."

Facing Judge Kent Jasperson, Treffinger said very little, while answering "yes, your honor," as Jasperson asked a series of routine questions regarding his guilty plea.

"The court will set the unconditional waiver of the preliminary hearing in this matter and order the defendant bound over to district court," Jasperson said.

Treffinger, who prosecuted criminal cases in Nye, Esmeralda, and Mineral counties, was arrested along with Jesse James Lewis, 36, after a search warrant was served at 5841 E. Alfano Ave.

The action was the culmination of a month-long investigation which indicated narcotics were being used and sold from the residence, according to police.

Both Treffinger and Lewis were found in the residence at the time of the search, which produced heroin and various types of drug paraphernalia, including several small baggies with residue, metal spoons with residue, used syringes, tin foil with burn marks and glass pipes with methamphetamine residue, police said. Drug paraphernalia was found in every room of the residence, police records state.

Police said Lewis tried to conceal and destroy heroin in his possession when he was arrested, in addition to being under the influence of several types of narcotics at the time, according to the sheriff's office.

Upon arriving at the Nye County Sheriff's Office, Lewis was given a urine test, which presumptively tested positive for methamphetamine, opiates, and THC.

It was determined that Treffinger is the primary resident of the house, and that Lewis is also an occupant at the residence.

Treffinger's fiancé, Jennifer Madison, was arrested days later on the charges.

Her case remains at the Pahrump Justice Court level.

The state attorney general issued a statement shortly after Treffinger's arrest.

"This individual was first employed by the AG's office on August 27, 2013. On January 14, 2015, approximately nine days into AG Laxalt's administration, this individual separated from employment with this office. Any further details contained within his personnel file are confidential pursuant to Nevada law."

The office did not directly answer if Treffinger was under investigation for any behavior during his time with the office, or if any of his cases were being reviewed.