Man who violated protective order, fought with deputies, to plead guilty

A Pahrump man arrested and charged with several felonies late last year, entered into a plea agreement this week.

Jeffery Stevens, 46, is scheduled for sentencing in April.

He was arrested Dec. 17, after a struggle with Nye County Sheriff's deputies.

Nye County Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Vieta-Kabell said the state brought numerous charges against Stevens, who could spend years behind bars.

Among the charges Stevens pled guilty to are aggravated stalking, resisting a police officer with the use of a firearm, while violating a protection order.

"Aggravated stalking is a very serious Category 'B' felony punishable between two and 15 years in prison," he said. "Resisting a police officer with use of a firearm, while violating a protective order is a Category 'C' felony punishable by between one to five years in prison, for the act of trying to take the officer's firearm. It is also punishable by an additional one to five years because the defendant was violating a protective order when that occurred. The third charge was an unlawful use of a controlled substance, that charge is punishable by between one to four years. We believe that justice has absolutely been served."

Sentencing for Stevens is scheduled for April 11.

Vieta-Kabell said the state will argue vigorously before Fifth District Court Judge Robert Lane that Stevens should remain behind bars for an extended period of time.

"Mr. Stevens deserves to go to prison for a very long time and we hope to accomplish that and protect the people of Pahrump because they deserve to go about their daily business without having dangerous felons like Mr. Stevens running through town," he said. "People are out and about, shopping for groceries and visiting the thrift store, trying to enjoy a nice day out shopping and we are very relieved that he was taken into custody without anybody being seriously injured."

A week before his arrest on Dec. 10, deputies said he went to the home of his estranged wife, who had an active extended protective order placed against him. Deputies reviewed the footage of the victim's security camera and saw Stevens try to open the woman's front door, then cover the camera lens with his hand.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the victim's home again later on Dec. 10, as she heard loud banging on her sliding glass door.

Upon arrival, deputies were unable to locate Stevens in the area.

A day later, deputies were again dispatched to the woman's home as she stated that Stevens was at her bedroom window begging for her to let him inside.

Dispatchers said they could hear a faint voice that sounded like it was coming from outside on the line, according to deputies, but they failed to locate the suspect.

On Dec. 15, a sheriff's deputy was dispatched to an address on Mayfield Ranch Road for a report of a disturbance.

After arriving, the deputy made contact with the female victim and learned that Stevens was inside the residence.

According to the arrest report, when the deputy entered the residence Stevens attacked him, repeatedly punching and beating the in the head and face.

During the scuffle, Stevens repeatedly tried to remove the deputy's weapon from its holster.

The deputy was able to protect himself and the victim from further harm, while Stevens quit fighting and fled the scene.

The deputy was transported to Desert View Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Two days later, the sheriff's office received a 911 call, alerting them that Stevens was threatening an individual at a Pahrump business with a shotgun while looking for his wife.

Deputies responded hastily to the business but upon arrival found that Stevens had left on foot prior to their arrival.

Deputies eventually located Stevens along Dahlia Street near Basin Road and Highway 160.

Additional officers arrived on scene as Stevens again resisted arrest.

He was eventually placed under arrest and transported to Desert View Hospital for minor injuries sustained during the struggle with deputies, before being taken to the Nye County Detention Center.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com.