District Judge Michael Gibbons authorized a New Mexico drug program for a 20-year-old man who admitted his part in the sale of 500 Ecstasy tablets to a drug informant for $3,500.
Christopher Gonzales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
"He was just along for the ride," said lawyer William Routsis. "His buddy wanted company and paid him $500. He wasn't really a player."
Gonzales and Caleb Fry were arrested a year ago at the MontBleu casino at Stateline with 100 grams of Ecstasy for which they were to be paid $3,500.
Gonzales said he was paid $500. He lives in New Mexico.
Assistant District Attorney Michael McCormick said Monday he was concerned how well Gonzales would be supervised out of state.
"He tried to downplay his role, but the co-defendant was prepared to testify that he was more involved. He can't sit here and claim to be Snow White. He was involved up to his neck," McCormick said.
Gibbons set aside sentencing pending Gonzales' successful completion of a drug treatment program in New Mexico. The judge asked for monthly reports and set a review hearing Dec. 15.
Gonzales must abstain from drugs and alcohol, obey all laws, undergo testing, treatment and counseling, attend a 12-step program, and perform 80 hours of community service.
"You've done a good job putting your life in order since this happened," Gibbons said. "You made a serious mistake, but it doesn't have to ruin your life."
Sentencing is set Aug. 11 for a 19-year-old Minden woman who pleaded guilty Monday to selling heroin.
District Judge Michael Gibbons balked at sending Corinne Dannehl to Western Regional Drug Court prior to sentencing. She is in Douglas County Jail on $25,000 bail.
"On the face of it, this doesn't look right to me," Gibbons said. "She needs this as a wakeup call to turn her life around, and the community as well."
Gibbons said Dannehl could undergo in-patient treatment while she awaits sentencing, but her lawyer, Tod Young, said he doubted he could place her before she is accepted in drug court.
Dannehl, 20, of Minden, was arrested with a 20-year-old in connection with the sales of heroin in an undercover sting.
Both were jailed on $25,000 cash, but the man's parents bailed him out, according to court records.
Gibbons said he wasn't ruling out drug court, but wanted to wait until sentencing.
He said he was concerned that Dannehl was involved in drug sales and hadn't provided assistance to law enforcement officers.
Assistant District Attorney Michael McCormick said investigators didn't need information from Dannehl and she sold a very small amount.
"She's a heroin user," McCormick said. "She did it on behalf of Mr. McElvain. He was taking a community college course and couldn't make the deal. She's addicted to this stuff. They're dancing with the devil when they do this dangerous, dangerous drug."
Young said of the 30 cases he handled last week in East Fork Justice Court, six involved heroin and none were methamphetamine-related.
"It's a very dangerous drug," Young said. "We're seeing it routinely in young people."
Gibbons told Dannehl's parents, who attended Monday's arraignment, that he hadn't ruled out drug court.
"As tough as it is to see your child in custody, it's time to be tough on her," Gibbons said.
An 18-year-old transient who helped a 17-year-old acquaintance set up a deal to sell hallucinogenic mushrooms and pills similar to Ecstasy pleaded guilty Monday to a conspiracy charge and was ordered to stay in custody until he reports to Western Regional Drug Court on July 7.
Lawyer Tod Young said his client, Joshua Zuganos, was sleeping on friends' couches and was homeless.
"He's been on his own for several years," Young said.
If Zuganos successfully completes drug court, Young said he would ask to be admitted to transitional housing "to get on his feet and develop patterns of sobriety and counseling."
"I slept wherever they was an open couch," Zuganos said. "My friends gave me food."
An investigation by the sheriff's Street Enforcement Team, the Douglas-Carson-Lyon counties' Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Agency resulted in the arrests of Zuganos, and three other for selling hallucinogenic mushrooms and a drug known as TFMPP, commonly referred to as "mollies" and similar to Ecstasy.
Deputies seized 200 TFMPP pills and more than 314 grams of psilocybin mushrooms.
Zuganos said he had been in jail for more than a week and "it's the longest I've been sober in years."
Gibbons deferred sentencing pending Zuganos' completion of drug court. If he is successful, he may have the charges dismissed.
Zuganos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
