Medical condition earns house arrest for Indian Hills resident

A 45-year-old Indian Hills man with diabetes complications was placed on house arrest for 12 months Wednesday and warned if he consumed alcohol or drove, he would be incarcerated in the Nevada State Prison infirmary.

Richard Denny was sentenced to two consecutive six-month sentences after racking up probation violations and driving under the influence arrests.

East Fork Judge Jim EnEarl told Denny he was disappointed in himself and the suspect because the defendant was re-arrested for drunk driving after the judge released him on house arrest.

"I am more disappointed in you and me than anybody in a long time," EnEarl said. "I don't know any other judge in the state who would take into consideration your medical needs. Then, you drove around drunk."

Denny spent the last week in the prison infirmary.

EnEarl told Denny he could not have a vehicle at his residence until it had been installed with a state-approved device which would indicate whether the driver had consumed alcohol.

Denny begged EnEarl not to return him to prison.

"I don't want to go back to prison. I am done. I am more than done. It wasn't on purpose I was making a mockery of this system. I am an alcoholic," Denny said.

EnEarl discounted Denny's alcoholism defense.

"Anybody else who did what you did would go to jail for a year," he said.

Because of Denny's medical condition, Douglas County Jail was unable to accommodate him. At the time of his arrest, his leg was infected and he required daily infusion of antibiotics so he was housed at the prison infirmary in Carson City.

Denny said he was willing to pay $450 month for house arrest.

"I'll go to any lengths to stay clean and sober. From this day on, I'll be an upstanding citizen and do what I have to do to clean this up," he said.

EnEarl said he could not drive or consume drugs or alcohol.

"If you get behind the wheel, you are going to jail," he said.

Denny was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended, on March 21 for discharging a firearm in a public place. He pleaded guilty on June 13 to domestic violence stemming from an incident at a Minden restaurant.

He was arrested twice in August on traffic violations involving alcohol and driving under the influence.

-- A Carson City man who said he was a heroin addict was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in Douglas County Jail for driving with a suspended license, and without insurance or registration.

James Karpus, 36, also admitted failing to appear for sentencing. Originally, he said he was fighting a fire for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but admitted he didn't know where he was when he missed the March 27 court date.

He told East Fork Judge Jim EnEarl he was addicted to heroin.

Prosecutor Mike McCormick recommended Karpus serve six months in jail and questioned whether he really was a firefighter.

"I don't think a firefighter should be strung out on heroin," McCormick said.

EnEarl told Karpus he could undergo inpatient substance abuse treatment while he is incarcerated. EnEarl rejected the defendant's offer to undergo outpatient treatment.

"I'm going to lose my job and send my family back to welfare," he said. "I can't just leave my family stranded. I guess I should have thought about that."

-- A charge of battery constituting domestic violence was dismissed Wednesday against an Indian Hills man who was accused of pinning down his girlfriend and cutting her hair in retaliation for an earlier fight.

The district attorney's office dismissed the charge against Justin Robert Jackson, 29, without prejudice which means the charge could be refiled with more evidence.

The alleged victim in the incident sent a letter to the court that Jackson did not choke or pin her down. She asked that a temporary restraining order be lifted and he be allowed to return home.