District Court Judge

Douglas County District Court Judge Michael Gibbons faces a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter following a fatal bicycle accident this summer, according to charges filed Friday by District Attorney Mark Jackson.

On August 20, 2013, cyclist Joseph Longo, 61, was killed in an accident near Pinenut and East Valley roads in the Carson Valley. Charges state Gibbons, 57, failed to exercise due care when overtaking or passing Longo who was traveling in the same direction. Gibbons is accused of failing to pass at a safe distance and not using due care to avoid a collision.

Of over 90,000 IRS employees there are bound to be a few “bad apples” that act wrongfully. Most IRS employees are hard working, dedicated, intelligent and professional folks that do a lot of good work under very difficult cirbumstances.

The FBI and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) investigated and the U.S. Attorney Office prosecuted Jeanne L. Gavin recently.

It seems like a rare opportunity these days to be able to cast a vote in an election and feel good about your selection. Most of the time I wind up voting against the other person as a choice between the lesser of two evils. As a result, I believe most Americans are unhappy at one time or another about some facet of their government, whether local, state or national.

Judge Jim Wilson will seek re-election as district court judge. Judge Wilson was elected to the First Judicial District Court, which serves Carson City and Storey County, in 2008.

Judge Wilson graduated from Carson High School, the University of Nevada, Reno, and McGeorge School of Law. He was a deputy district attorney and then Elko County District Attorney. He was in private practice in Carson City for 22 years before taking the bench.

Carson City District Court Judge James Todd Russell has announced he will run for re-election. Judge Russell was appointed to the bench by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn in December 2006. He was then elected on Nov. 7, 2008, being unopposed for a six-year term commencing in January 2009.

Judge Russell grew up on Carson City, attended Carson High School and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. From 1969 to 1971, he served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant.

A 56-year-old Carson City woman was sentenced to prison Tuesday after embezzling at least $140,000 as office manager of a Carson City company formerly owned by actor Kevin Costner.

On Tuesday, District Court Judge James Wilson sentenced Barbara Jean Larson to 24 to 72 months in prison on a charge of embezzlement and 12 to 30 months on a charge related to defrauding the State of Nevada, Employment Security Division.

A 48-year-old man who escaped the Nevada Correctional Facility in Carson City months before it was permanently closed was convicted in federal court Thursday of being a felon in possession of a firearm, said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Christopher Lee Lang, 48, of Grass Valley, Calif. entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England, according to a news release.

A 43-year-old Carson City man was sentenced Tuesday in district court to two maximum sentences for two separate felony drug transactions.

Lamont Ontario Williams received 28 months to 6 years for the sale of methamphetamine and a consecutive term of 28 months to 6 years for the sale of large amounts of marijuana, according to the Carson City District Attorney's Office. As a result, Williams will spend a minimum of 56 months and up to 12 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence for both cases.

Gregory Alan Pugh, 52, was sentenced Tuesday in Carson City District Court for one count of attempted establishing or possessing financial forgery lab and possessing forged instruments or bills, said District Attorney Neil A. Rombardo in a news release.

Pugh received 4 years to 10 years and 15 months to 5 years respectively. The two sentences will run concurrent to each other. As a result, Pugh will spend a minimum of 4 years and up to 10 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence.

A 49-year-old man was sentenced Monday in Carson City District to up to 6 years in prison for one felony count of eluding a peace officer and one count of sales of a controlled substance.
Mark Garner of Carson City, will spend up to 12 years in prison, according to a news release from the Carson City District Attorney's Office.

Leadership at the state's highest court will change Jan. 5 when Chief Justice Michael A. Cherry ends his term and Justice Kristina Pickering begins the administrative role of Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court.

Pickering will represent Nevada’s courts at the 2013 Nevada Legislature and will give the State of the Judiciary address to lawmakers early in the session. She will serve as Chief Justice until January 2014.

A 28-year-old Carson City man was sentenced in Carson City District Court Monday to the maximum sentence of 28 months up to 72 months in prison for one count of child abuse.

Franklin Laidley was convicted of crimes that happened between May 1 and May 13, 2011, in which he physically abused his live-in girlfriend’s six-month old daughter, said Carson City District Attorney Neil A. Rombardo.

The six-month old child sustained blunt force trauma to her head. According to the Criminal Information filed by the District Attorney’s Office, the injuries were consistent with the child being intentionally injured by being shaken and/or struck.

Attorneys for the teachers association and state business interests faced off before the Nevada Supreme Court today over whether a proposed margins tax initiative petition has met legal requirements and so should be submitted to the 2013 Legislature.

Carson Valley’s brightest celebration of the holiday season will take to the streets during the 17th Annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 1st, beginning at 5 p.m. Residents and visitors will line Highway 395 between Gilman Avenue in Gardnerville and Minden Town Park to watch dozens of colorfully decorated floats.

A Clark County District judge will hold a hearing Monday on a residency challenge filed against Assembly 9 Democratic candidate Andrew Martin.

The court challenge was filed last week by Republican candidate Kelly Hurst, who submitted information allegedly showing that Martin actually resides outside the district in violation of state law.

CARSON CITY – A libertarian think tank’s legal team has filed an opening brief in a case before the state Supreme Court seeking to pursue its separation-of-powers lawsuit aimed at state lawmakers who also work in state government jobs.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval today announced changes to his staff in his Carson City office, including the departure of Senior Adviser Dale Erquiaga, who will move to Arizona in July to be near his children.

Liane Anderson, of Carson City, was sentenced on Tuesday to 40 to 102 months in prison following her conviction for felony Obtaining Money by False Pretenses and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.

The Office of the Nevada Attorney General announced today that Tracy Lawrence, 43, a local notary, has pled guilty to one count of notarizing the signature of an individual not in her presence, a gross misdemeanor in violation of NRS 240.155.

Notary fraud carries a potential jail sentence of one year and/or a fine of up to $2,000.

CARSON CITY – Medicaid fraud is a growing problem here and around the country, and two different Nevada agencies are tasked with investigating cases and returning ill-gotten taxpayer dollars to the program.

Warren Engine Company #1 will unveil a recently resorted circa 1900 chemical fire cart at the group's fundraising gala on Friday, Sept. 23, 5-9 p.m. in the Nevada Room at the Governors Mansion.

The event will feature live music by Mike and the Liabilities Band, led by retired Carson City District Court Judge Mike Griffin. There will be a ho-host bar, hors d'oeuvres, raffles and a silent auction. Cost is $30.

Washoe District Court Judge Patrick Flanaghan recently ruled that Nevada's foreclosure mediation program, which allows distressed borrowers to request a face-to-face mediation with lenders, is not ...

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, says he wishes the judge who ruled in the second congressional special election case had disclosed business interests he shared with Republican candidate Mark Amodei.

SPARKS — Former Republican Party of Nevada Chairman Mark Amodei yesterday blew out the competition and became his party’s nominee for the 2nd congressional district special election on Sept. 13.
Amodei needed 162 of 323 member votes to win. He pulled in 221 votes compared to state Sen. Greg Brower who earned 56 votes and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold who received 46 votes.

The exploration companies that act as the research-and-development arm of Nevada's mining industry won a key legal battle last week.Carson City District Court Judge Jim Wilson in Carson City ruled ...

Retired Carson city District Court Judge William (Bill) Maddox has come full circle in his legal career, a circumstance that seems to suit him just fine.Maddox, a former Carson City district attorn...

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has ordered all state flags to be at half staff through sunset today in remembrance of Fifth Judicial District Court Judge John P. Davis, who died Wednesday.

“Judge Davis spent 20 years serving the people of the state of Nevada as a District Court judge and I believe it is appropriate to honor Judge Davis’s devotion to public service and his contribution to our state in this manner,” Gov. Sandoval said in a statement.

Davis was a district court judge in Nye County since 1991. He died Wednesday in Tonopah at the age of 76.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Secretary of State Ross Miller today appointed Scott F. Gilles as deputy elections officer. He steps into the role after his predecessor, Matt Griffin, resigned this past December to return to private practice.

Plans to install solar panels at five Carson City schools can proceed on schedule, a district court judge ruled today.

Carson City District Court Sr. Judge Deborah Agosti said it was her opinion that the Carson City School District acted within the scope of the law when it came to a joint bid opportunity with the city of Sparks to install the panels.

On Monday the Northern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council filed a petition in Carson City District Court to stop progress on the nearly $11 million project.

Christy McGill likes to use a gardening metaphor when she explains Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey's mission to reduce substance abuse and promote recovery.

“The Coalition is planting the seeds of hope that alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover,” said McGill, who serves as director.