District Attorney

In an effort to not leave the county without a leader, a contract for Larry Werner to be the Douglas County Manager for one year will be voted on by commissioners Thursday.

Lenny Chappell, a longtime Carson City businessman and former chairman of the Carson City Downtown Business Association (DBA), waived his right to a preliminary examination in Carson City Municipal Justice Court Friday, pleading guilty to charges of embezzlement and theft.

A 40 year-old Carson City man has been convicted of felony possession of child pornography charges by the Nevada First Judicial District Court in Carson City.

Michael Fondi, a former Nevada First District Court Judge in Carson City, died at his home this morning, according to Fitzhenry’s Funeral Home. He was 78.

Fondi had been in home hospice care when he died, said Fitzhenry’s General Manager and Funeral Director Jim Smolenski. No funeral arrangements have been made at this time and will be forthcoming.

Carson City area law enforcement officials and the Carson City District Attorney announced Friday the issuance of a DNA arrest warrant for the shooter who fired bullets into the home of Carson City Judge John Tatro and his wife in December 2012.

An error in a Reno newspaper about a recent federal court ruling has led to some confusion about ward elections in Carson City, according to District Attorney Jason Woodbury.

A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a certain “hybrid” method of electing members to a governing body is unconstitutional.

Former Carson City District Attorney Neil Rombardo has been named Chief General Council for the Washoe County School District, officials announced Tuesday. The district also hired a new police chief.

A Las Vegas man pled guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of killing an antelope illegally in Lander County on July 21 and was sentenced to three years of probation, a year of jail time (suspended), fined more than $4500 in civil and criminal penalties and forfeited a .300 caliber Winchester rifle used in the crime.

Carson City District Attorney Jason Woodbury filed a motion Thursday to dismiss charges against an elderly Douglas County man who shot his frail 86-year-old wife who was hospitalized after she had suffered paralysis from a fall.

William Dresser shot and killed his wife, Frances, in a third-floor hospital room at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014. He had been charged with murder with a deadly weapon.

The following is from Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong regarding the agency's recent application of a grant to fund a school resource officer for the Carson City School District:

A new drug treatment process through Carson City's court system will begin with its first hearing July 2 at the Carson City Courthouse. The goal is to send addicts, especially those who are young, to substance abuse rehabilitation and counseling programs.

The Lyon County District Attorney’s Office announced that Russell Edward Frietze, 24, of Fernley, Nev., was sentenced on March 9, 2015, to 76-192 months in Nevada State Prison for child abuse causing substantial bodily harm and 24-96 months in Nevada State Prison for child abuse.

After three days of trial, a jury found a 33-year-old Silver Springs man guilty of resisting a public officer with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon, both felonies.

Florencio Brito was found guilty May 21 at the conclusion of the Third Judicial District Court trial in Yerington. Orrin J.H. Johnson, Senior Deputy District Attorney, and Damian Sinnott, Deputy District Attorney, prosecuted the case for the Lyon County District Attorney.

During my eight years as District Attorney of Carson City, I never hesitated to prosecute people who broke the law. But no matter how many convictions I won, I knew then as I know now that our streets will be a lot safer if we prevent more people from turning to crime in the first place.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson rejects charges that he went easy on a fellow Democrat who was indicted after Republican attorney general took up the case....

A Carson City judge sentenced a woman to prison Monday in the December 2014 robbery of a 99-year-old woman.
Joanna Grajeda, who pled guilty to the crime of robbery, will get 3 to 10 years in prison as ordered by Carson City District Court Judge James Russell. Two others have also pled guilty and were sentenced to prison.

The weekend quickly approaches, but the fun won’t wait. Belt out a few tunes with karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar, or smoke-free karaoke at the Feisty Goat Pub. ‘Live, Love, Lavish’ with local favorites, Lavish Green, at a special performance at Carson Cigar Co. tonight. Take a look at the whole list: there’s something for everyone.

THURSDAY:

• Last Day to RSVP for Carson City Leisure Hour Club April 15, with speaker Brian Crane (aka “Mr. Pickles”), nationally recognized syndicated cartoonist (Call Dorothy Link at 775-885-2542 to make your reservation. Reservations for buffet dinner are required.)
• Carson School District Spring Break
• Museum Advocacy Day at the Legislature

Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced today the appointment of Patty Cafferata as the Communications Director for his office.

“As a life-long Nevadan and former statewide public office holder, I am pleased Cafferata is joining my team,” said Laxalt. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the office.”

On December 30, 2014, District Court Judges’ James T. Russell and James E. Wilson, Jr., selected Ms. Kimberly Okezie as the Juvenile Special Master for the Juvenile Court.

The District Court Judges decided to recruit for the position instead of appointing an individual. A five person panel convened and reviewed 23 applications for the position. Many of the applicants were well qualified and possessed years of experience.

We wish to thank the public and the property owners of Carson City’s Historic District for their efforts and support in our cause to save the Integrity of the District.

Carson City leaders were sworn into office today at the Carson City Courthouse. Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell presided with the oath of office taken by District Court Judge James T. Russell and James E. Wilson Jr.

UPDATE: Carson City District Attorney-Elect Jason Woodbury announced Wednesday he will appoint Kristin Luis to be Assistant District Attorney. She will replace Mark Krueger who is now serving as assistant district attorney under Neil Rombardo.

“Kristin embodies every principle I want the D.A.’s office to reflect,” said Woodbury. “She’s honest. Her judgment is sensible and consistent. And she’s the hardest working person I’ve ever known.”

The pair who robbed an elderly Carson City World War II veteran over Memorial Day weekend earlier this year have been sentenced to prison.

Robert "Robbie" Hernandez, 28, and Jordan Burkhart, 24, were each sentenced Tuesday in Carson City District Court to six years to 15 years each for robbery against a person over the age of 60, and an additional six years to 20 years for perpetrating the crimes on a person older than 60 years of age.

Carson City District Attorney-Elect Jason Woodbury today announced he will appoint Adriana Fralick to serve as Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Civil Division of the District Attorney’s office.

“I am very pleased to have someone of Adriana’s caliber step in to lead the civil division,” said Woodbury in a news release. “Her experience and background — especially with ethics and the Open Meeting Law — make Adriana a perfect match for the position.”

Jason Woodbury will replace Neil Rombardo as Carson City District Attorney. When Rombardo decided not to run for re-election to a third term, Assistant District Attorney Mark Krueger filed for the post.

Here are final voting results as of 8:48 p.m.:

Carson City District Attorney
Mark Krueger: 6676 - 46.69%
Jason Woodbury: 7622 - 53.317%

Carson City Supervisor Ward 1
Karen Abowd: 8068 - 55.34%
Lisa Helget: 6510 - 44.66%

Carson City Supervisor Ward 2
Lori Bagwell: 7508 - 52.10%
John McKenna: 6903 - 47.90%

School Trustee District 1
Jim Bathgate: 5390 - 40.04%
Ron Swirczek: 8072 - 59.96%

School Trustee District 3
David W. Carter: 5647 - 42.97%
Stacie Wilke: 7495 - 57.03%

School Trustee District 4
Jeffrey Cherpeski: 4411 - 34.83%
Ryan Green: 8254 - 65.17%

Ballot Question Carson City 1:
Shall the Nevada Legislature amend the Carson City Charter to provide for nomination by ward only voting in ward-supervisor primary elections with an at-large general election run off between the two highest primary vote receivers in each ward?
Yes: 5443 - 36.1%
No: 9634 - 63.9%

The following races are not final:

Assembly District 40
Dave Cook (D): 5,196 - 30.81%
Philip “PK” O’Neill (R): 10,401 - 61.68%
John Wagner (IAP): 1,266 - 7.51%

State Senate District 16
John Everhart (IAP): 1,894 - 6.6%
Michael Kelley (DEM): 8,420 - 29.35%
Ben Kieckhefer (R): 18,378 - 64.05%

Statewide office results for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, U.S. House District 2, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Controller and other races and ballot questions can be found by clicking here.

A 39-year-old former Carson City resident suspected of possessing thousands of child pornography images was successfully extradited from Hawaii and is now in Carson City Jail with a $150,000 bond.

Patrick Jason Williams, was extradited at approximately 11:30 a.m. Friday via airline from Hilo Hawaii and taken to the Carson City detention facility. He was booked into jail on a Carson City Justice Court warrant for possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of children under the age of 16. His first appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov.

A woman who spotted a man attempting to sell coins that were stolen from her home in an Oct. 28 burglary, chased him out of a store and into the streets shortly after the Nevada Day Parade ended on Saturday where Carson City sheriff’s officers then found and arrested him.

Drake Vancleave, 50, was arrested on suspicion of six felony counts including receiving stolen property, obtaining money under false pretenses and burglary, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said. He is being held on $125,737 bail.

A 29-year-old Carson City man, DeWayne Rey, was arrested Friday, 10:34 p.m. in the area of Woodside and Stanton on a felony charge of violation of probation conditions. According to the arrest report, deputies with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team were in the area and observed a dark color sedan with nonfunctioning license plate lights.

For several months, I have tried to show voters what kind of a District Attorney I would be with a principled, professional, hard-working campaign.

That’s why it was disappointing to read Mr. Rombardo’s letter. He’s entitled to an opinion on the race. And, although it’s not my style, if he chooses to express his opinion as an attack against me rather than approval of my opponent, that’s up to him.

But he doesn’t get to be untruthful.