Library will stay open; man denies charge

MINDEN - Both branches of the Douglas County Library will be open Thursday after Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl quashed 14 of 19 subpoenas issued to library staff.

Library Director Linda Deacy said she was happy not to have to close the branches.

"It's a great relief," she said. "It will make a huge difference. We will be able to take care of business without all of us being in court."

But the man who planned to call 29 witnesses on Thursday in his misdemeanor stalking trial said he still plans to call as many witnesses as he needs to refute the charges.

Richard Allen Shrader, 40, of Minden is facing trial for charges of writing an intimidating letter and stalking, both misdemeanors.

"The day of trial I will call every witness," he said.

He said that he issued 25 subpoenas and has four other witnesses he plans to call in his defense.

Shrader, a computer programmer, denies the charges, saying he was invited to the library to work on a machine.

He claims two library employees are witnesses, but could not identify them and did not get any cooperation from the library or his ex-wife in finding them.

"I know their faces, but not their names," he said.

Shrader said he appeared in court on Tuesday but was unwilling to reveal his defense to the prosecution.

"I have the right to subpoena," he said. "If the questions are irrelevant then the judge can intervene. But I'm not going to ask irrelevant questions."

Shrader said the temporary restraining order against him is limiting his ability to mount a defense.

"Neither I nor my agents can contact these people," he said. "If they would have cooperated, there wouldn't be that many subpoenas."