Man sent to jail for alcohol violation

A 37-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man was ordered Wednesday to serve nearly a year in Douglas County Jail after his probation officer found him drunk and hiding under a bed.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl ordered Jeffrey Rudow to serve two suspended sentences for battery that constitutes domestic violence in connection with an incident in April.

He was accused of using a chokehold on a 12-year-old girl and battering her mother.

He received suspended sentences and was placed on probation.

Rudow was arrested May 10 when Chief Alternative Sentencing Officer Doug Swalm went to check out a report that the defendant was drunk in violation of his probation.

He found Rudow hiding under a bed. Rudow's blood-alcohol content was .269, more than three times the legal limit of .08 in Nevada.

"I cannot understand the insanity alcohol has over me," Rudow said. "I can't do it by myself."

EnEarl said he would recommend Rudow for in-patient treatment after he serves a substantial portion of his sentence.

"You hurt two people close to you," EnEarl said. "It's not the alcohol. It's you. You consumed it and put people around you at risk again."

Rudow admitted drinking several beers and shots of vodka the day he was arrested.

-- An 18-year-old Gardnerville teenager was sentenced Wednesday to a suspended six-month term in Douglas County Jail for stealing a bicycle.

Herbert Montani apologized to Keith Hart, owner of Big Daddy's Bicycles & Fitness in Gardnerville, for taking the $277.54 bicycle.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl refused Montani's request that he be allowed to keep the bicycle which Hart said was worthless to him because of the damage

Montani paid restitution for the stolen bicycle.

"I feel if he gets to keep the bike, it's kind of like a reward," Hart said.

Hart also asked the judge to order Montani to not harass employees who helped him locate the missing bicycle. Hart estimated it took about four hours of his time to track down Montani.

EnEarl told Montani, who said he dropped out of school in 10th grade, he must make an attempt to earn a general equivalency diploma.

He also told him if he smokes marijuana or uses alcohol or any controlled substance, he faces six months in jail.

"I give you my word," EnEarl said. "If you smoke dope again, you will go to jail."

He ordered Montani to stay out of the bike shop and away from the employees.

Montani was accused of stealing the bicycle April 10 when he took it for a test ride and failed to return.

Deputies caught up with him at the skate park at Lampe Park when he initially denied having the bicycle. They found it at his residence, upside down on the dining room floor surrounded by tools and miscellaneous parts.

The bicycle's handlebars and wheels had been swapped out.