Couple accused of ambushing ATV-ers

A couple accused of battery and theft of property turned themselves in Tuesday, five months after an altercation on property in the Pine Nut Mountains.

Leroy Rupert, 67, and Linda Prehoda, 61, were accused of poking a man with a piece of rebar and taking his gear after they came upon him and a friend riding all-terrain vehicles near their property on Stockyard Road.

According to reports, the incident occurred Oct. 24, 2009.

The man said he and a friend were riding ATVS from the Johnson Lane area across the Pine Nut mountains south to Fish Springs.

The man said he and his friend were riding west on a dirt road and came to a locked gate.

They turned around and were riding east when a Jeep came up behind the ATVs.

Prehoda reportedly exited the Jeep with a piece of metal rebar, yelling at the men and accusing them of trespassing. The victim said she raised the rebar to strike him, and he said, "you don't want to do that."

He said he placed his right hand on his coat pocket to make her think he had a firearm.

She stopped her advance, but continued yelling.

A second vehicle arrived with Rupert, according to reports, who began cursing at the victims.

Rupert allegedly took the rebar from Prehoda, swung it at the victim, stopped, then poked him in the chest with it.

The victim said he wasn't hurt, but Prehoda damaged his cell phone which he was able to call 911.

The man said Prehoda reportedly grabbed his helmet, gloves and telephone from his hands and said they were taking his ATV. He and his friend got on their ATVs and returned to Fish Springs where they met with a deputy.

Prosecution of the couple was delayed while officials determined whether the altercation took place on county or Washoe tribal property. It was determined the property was Douglas County land.

The couple live in the 400 block of Stockyard Road.

Bail was set at $2,500 cash for each suspect.