Carson City Sheriff: Bail amount hiked to $250,000; DNA results pending in judge threats investigation
A man taken into custody last week on weapons charges and may be linked to an unsolved case involving threats made against a Carson City Judge remains in jail as an investigation continues, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said Thursday.
John Aston, 74, of the Reno area was taken into custody Feb. 1 on a weapons charge warrant in Carson City. His bail amount has increased to $250,000.
The sheriff also notes that results of DNA testing are not yet made available. Furlong released the following information Thursday:
On February 2, 2017, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office released information pertaining to the arrest of John Aston, age 74, and possible connections to the four-year-old investigation into threats made to Carson City Justice Court Judge John Tatro.
At the time of the press release, it was anticipated that a follow-up release would be presented on Friday, February 10th, to update the status of the investigation. Unfortunately, due to the on-going investigative field activity, including facility search warrants executed today, the department will not be in a position to release any more information than has already been presented. Analysis of evidence submitted to crime laboratories, such as DNA evidence, has not yet been received back for inclusion in the case.
Mr. John Aston remains in custody on charges stemming from a 2011 arrests on weapons charges. He is currently being held on $250,000 bail.
Carson City Sheriff’s Office detectives and Department of Public Safety investigators received information that an inmate at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Detention Center was being held on a 2011 felony contempt of court warrant out of Carson City.
The “tip” provided to authorities suggested Aston be interviewed regarding a four-year on-going investigation into threats made against Carson City Justice Court Judge John Tatro, said Furlong.
In December of 2012, during the early morning hours, the Judge Tatro's home was the target of shot’s fired through his front door.
In December of 2013, Judge Tatro received death threats on a Christmas card in the mail.
Then, in May of 2015, Deputies again responded to the Judge’s residence when a failed attempt to “fire bomb” his residence was discovered.
In mid-2016, Carson City District Attorney Jason Woodbury obtained a “DNA warrant” related to this case.
This rarely issued type of warrant was based on the DNA marker evidence that was collected at two of the three incidents at the residence of Judge Tatro, however, no known suspect could be identified in law enforcement associated DNA data bases. The warrant remains nameless today.
Carson City Sheriff’s Office records reflect two prior contacts with Aston. He was cited for a minor traffic offense in 2005, and was arrested in 2011 for weapons related offenses, including carrying a concealed weapon and being in possession of a “sawed off shotgun.”
The weapons charges ultimately resulted in the felony contempt of court warrant served Feb. 1.
Investigators assigned to the case, along with District Attorney Woodbury, have assembled to review information obtained and to coordinate investigative leads in the case.
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