Man sentenced to prison in theft

A 32-year-old South Lake Tahoe man who traded identities with his brother was sentenced Feb. 21 to up to five years in Nevada State Prison for stealing a handbag from a casino patron.

Joseph Igo must serve a minimum of 18 months before he is eligible for probation on a charge of possession of stolen property.

"While you are in prison, I hope you figure out it's not OK to steal from little old ladies sitting at slot machines," District Judge Dave Gamble said.

"You are a fake. You don't even have a clue what is the difference between right and wrong," Gamble said.

Igo was arrested Dec. 12 at Harrah's Lake Tahoe after he stole a purse from the victim who was vacationing.

He also has previous arrests in Washoe and El Dorado counties. He told Gamble that some of his priors should be assigned to his brother Eugene.

"For all the misinformation he and his brother generated about their criminal histories, he admits his wrongdoing," said Tod Young, Igo's lawyer.

"He is desirous of probation. He has a wife and child. He does have a serious drug problem."

Igo admitted he had been an intravenous drug user since 1998.

Prosecutor Derrick Lopez said Igo was a poor candidate for probation.

"I'm real sorry," Igo said. "I'm not a bad guy even though it looks that way on paper."

Gamble ordered Igo to pay $2,570 restitution when he's released from prison.

n A 27-year-old Carson City man received 18 months probation Tuesday for allowing his 4-year-old son to ride unrestrained in his vehicle.

Juan Alcocer was pulled over Sept. 4 by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Even though the vehicle had a child car seat as required by law, the little boy was unrestrained.

Alcocer was charged with driving under the influence and child endangerment.

He received a suspended sentence in Justice Court for the DUI. According to prosecutor Derrick Lopez, Alcocer paid his fine, attended DUI school and the Victims Impact Panel and served his jail time.

Deputies found cocaine in Alcocer's pocket at his arrest, but he insisted to Judge Dave Gamble on Tuesday that it was given to him by an acquaintance who insisted he take it and Alcocer was going to throw it away.

He tested negative for the presence of drugs.

"You may have absolutely no alcohol and you must be absolutely faithful with the child restraints in the car when you are driving with children," Gamble said.