Gardnerville woman tests positive for alcohol

A 49-year-old Gardnerville woman was jailed on $50,000 bail Monday after she tested positive for alcohol during a hearing on a third charge of driving under the influence.

Monica Johnson said she drank in the morning because she was nervous about going to prison.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl set another court appearance for today.

Johnson was arrested July 31 after a traffic stop in the Gardnerville Ranchos. Her blood alcohol content was .103.

A search of her driving records turned up three prior arrests for driving under the influence dating from April 2001. Nevada law mandates prison for a third conviction.

Johnson's prior convictions were in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

n A 32-year-old Reno woman was sent to prison Tuesday for probation violation and said, "This is probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

Tonya Adel Richardson must serve a minimum of 12 months before she is eligible for probation. She must also serve a prison sentence imposed for a Reno burglary charge.

Richardson elected to proceed Tuesday without a lawyer.

"I messed up. I relapsed. I need to face the consequences," she said. "There are programs in prison I can be in."

Richardson was sentenced to 12 to 34 months in prison in 2004 for felony possession of a controlled substance.

She had several probation violations and was arrested in June in Reno for burglary, admitting she stole an acquaintance's purse and took money and other personal items.

"Hopefully, you will be away from drugs for awhile," said Senior Judge Norm Robison. "I hope you get your life straightened out. From here it goes downhill and gets a lot worse than it's been."

She received credit for 103 days served in the Douglas County conviction.

n A 40-year-old woman pleaded guilty Monday to fraudulent use of a credit card and claimed she already repaid $1,437 to the victim.

In exchange for her guilty plea, additional charges were dismissed against Joreen George. She had been accused of writing phony checks against the Washoe Tribe and eluding an officer.

District Judge Michael Gibbons set sentencing for Sept. 11.

George faces up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

She told Gibbons she has five prior convictions.

"Your record is getting pretty bad," Gibbons said.

"I know," she said. "There won't be a next time."

The victim, who showed up in court near the end of the hearing, verified that George had repaid her. She said she was having trouble with her bank, the Greater Nevada Credit Union, over transactions immediately after George emptied her account.

She said the bank believed she was in on the fraud with George.

"The bank should have shut the card off," she said.

The victim said she had received no money from the bank to cover the losses.