Man gets 90 days in jail for battery

A 21-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man who admitted beating his pregnant girlfriend was ordered Wednesday to serve 90 days in Douglas County Jail following the victim's tearful testimony she wanted to work things out.

Erik Beagle pleaded guilty to battery causing domestic violence. A charge of resisting arrest was dismissed.

"There's no way I can condone, endorse, dismiss or mitigate what happened," said East Fork Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl.

"You took a 5-foot-2, 100 pound girl and beat her. And when she was down on the ground, you kicked her. She's pregnant with your baby."

Beagle was arrested March 31.

The victim said in court Wednesday that she wanted to go to counseling with Beagle.

"I'm willing to work everything out," she said. "I'm pretty sure we have a strong relationship."

Beagle blamed his behavior on alcohol.

"I was drinking," he said. "I got in a yelling match. I've never done anything like this."

According to court documents, Beagle was combative with deputies who arrested him at his mother's residence.

Officers said he approached them with clenched fists and refused to stop.

A deputy struck him with his baton above the left knee, but the suspect did not react. Finally, the officer wrestled him to the ground and handcuffed him. Beagle said he was a Golden Gloves boxer.

Deputies said the victim was bleeding from her lips and had redness behind her left ear. She said Beagle pushed her to the floor, got on top of her and punched her several times in the face. He also reportedly kicked her with his foot.

EnEarl sentenced Beagle to six months in jail and suspended half of it for a year.

He is forbidden to use drugs or alcohol and must attend anger management classes for six months after his release from jail.

n A Yerington man who hassled patrons at Carson Valley Inn, escaped from a patrol car and ran handcuffed into traffic on Highway 395 late Saturday night said Wednesday he couldn't remember any of it.

Michael Merrill, 36, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer.

"You must have been quite a sight," said East Fork Judge Jim EnEarl.

He sentenced Merrill to 180 days on each offense to be served concurrently.

He suspended all but 10 days of the jail time on the condition that Merrill not drink or violate any laws for a year.

Merrill said he drank heavily because he and his wife were staying at the Inn and he didn't have to drive.

Deputies were called to the Inn when Merrill began yelling obscenities challenging patrons to fight.

"You can't be a drunk and a father, so pick one," EnEarl told the father of four. "You take another drink and our conversation will be about going to jail."

n A Gardnerville Ranchos man who lost a tooth resisting deputies arresting him for drunk driving was sentenced Wednesday to serve 10 weekends in Douglas County Jail.

Paul R. Smith, 43, promised East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl he would quit drinking.

"You've told me that before, several times," EnEarl said.

Smith said he would never be back before EnEarl.

"I'm determined," Smith said. "You only see the bad points of me. You never see the good points."

Deputies pulled Smith over as he was driving south on Tillman Lane at 2 p.m. March 14. He was taken to Carson Valley Medical Center where a doctor attempted to place his tooth back in his mouth despite the suspect's "extremely poor condition of teeth and gums."

Smith reportedly told the doctor that his tooth had been loose and it wasn't the deputy's fault it fell out.

For the DUI charge, Smith opted for notice of election of treatment. If he successfully completes the program and stays out of trouble, the charge may be dropped.

He was sentenced to six months in jail for resisting arrest with 160 days suspended. He was ordered to abstain from alcohol.

n The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported 12 contacts for domestic violence March 29-April 4.

Four contacts were verbal domestic cases and eight adults were arrested for domestic battery.

Nine juveniles witnessed domestic violence and one juvenile was a suspect in a verbal domestic case.

The Family Support Council submitted three requests for temporary restraining orders to East Fork Justice Court with two approvals and one pending.

Three anti-stalking and harassment temporary restraining orders were denied with one approved.

Connie Richardson, sheriff's office domestic violence prevention coordinator, said the average number is 10-12 per week for this time of year.

The average number of children witnessing domestic violence is 7-9 per week with juvenile suspects at 0-2 per week.