Carson City woman jailed after allegedly turning $12 check to $120

A Carson City woman faces a felony forgery charge after she allegedly took a check that was given to her for $12 and altered it to $120, authorities said.

Marlena Acosta, 27, faces the felony charge, and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer, after Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies learned March 5 that a check issued to the woman from FISH for $12 — to be used to obtain a Nevada identification card from the DMV — had been altered to $120 and cashed.

Deputies learned of the woman's whereabouts and on April 24 she was outside near a Long Street address. Acosta was asked to stop and she instead took off running. Officers caught up with her and placed her under arrest. Bail: $5,412.

In other arrests:

— A 19-year-old Reno man was jailed Thursday and faces a felony charge of being in possession of a schedule one controlled substance.

Zayven Kane Mergan was stopped by authorities, along with another man, after they had walked across Fall Street, not in a cross walk, which forced a vehicle to stop.
When speaking with officers, the behavior of the two — shaking and stuttering, not looking directly at officers but instead a possible escape route — was considered and officers advised they wanted to check the men for weapons, the arrest report states.

While searching, officers found an inhaler in Mergan's left pocket and a white pill which was identified as Acetaminophen/Codein, 300/30 mg, the arrest report states. The pill is a controlled substance, available by prescription only. The man told officers he did not have a prescription. Also found in the man's backpack was a marijuana pipe. Bail: $6,137.

— A 32-year-old Carson City man faces a gross misdemeanor charge of being in violation of a court order, stalking. The man made three calls to a woman from the Carson City Jail, according to the arrest report. The woman had a valid protection order against the man. Bail: $3,132.

— A 43-year-old transient was arrested April 25, 5:17 p.m. and faces a gross misdemeanor charge of unlawful taking of a vehicle. He had a warrant for his arrest issued April 24. Carson City authorities found the man after he fled when he was caught sleeping in a vehicle at a North Carson Street car lot.

At the time of the arrest the man smelled of alcohol and it was learned he had been on alternative sentencing with a "no drinking" clause. Bail: $8,500.

— A 23-year-old Carson City woman was arrested early Friday morning, April 26, 2:12 a.m. and faces a misdemeanor charge of failure to appear charge out of Reno Justice Court on a charge of driving under the influence of a prohibited substance.

— 69-year-old Carson City man was arrested April 24, 6:06 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Winnie Lane. He faces a misdemeanor charge of being in possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Officers responded to a home where there was an argument. The man's wife said her husband was drunk and arguing with she and her daughter and said she observed a gun tucked in her husband's back pants. The woman became nervous because she said her husband was intoxicated and was arguing and yelling at their daughter, the arrest report states.

The daughter had left the home prior to arrival by police and later told officers she had not seen a gun and didn't know her father had one, the arrest report states. The two had been arguing but it was not physical, she told deputies.

The man told police he did not have a firearm in his possession at the time of the argument. The wife told officers the man hid the gun after she had called police.
Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver handgun loaded with five Speer .38 caliber bullets.

The man was given a preliminary breath test in which he blew a preliminary 0.100. He was taken to jail on the misdemeanor charge. Subsequent breath tests registered .0.120 and 0.128. Bail: $632.

— A 22-year-old Yerington man was jailed April 24, 9:55 a.m. and faces a misdemeanor charge of being in contempt of court.

— A 32-year-old Carson City man was jailed April 24, 8:50 p.m., for being in violation of his court orders. The man had been drinking and blew a preliminary breath test of .383. He was taken to the hospital because of the blood alcohol content, cleared and then jailed. Bail: $3,130.

Those arrested and facing charges are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.