Locker thief sent to drug court

District Judge Dave Gamble approved drug court for a Gardnerville Ranchos man who admitted stealing from lockers at two Douglas County fitness centers.

Timothy Grant Kamchee, 45, pleaded guilty to theft for the incidents that occurred Feb. 14 through March 3 at World Gym and Gold's Gym.

"I went into the gym, broke into lockers and stole cash out of the lockers," Kamchee said. "I was deeply under the influence of drugs at the time of this crime that I was taking for my bipolar condition. I was taking 10 times more than prescribed. I got totally carried away with the addiction. The arrest, in a way, saved my life. I was able to sober up and continue with counseling."

According to investigators' reports, Kamchee's privileges were suspended at World Gym because he was a suspect in locker thefts, so he took out a membership at Gold's Gym.

Deputies found a screwdriver in Kamchee's gym bag which matched the marks on lockers that were pried open.

He admitted taking about $200 from gym members.

Gamble deferred sentencing until Kamchee completes drug court. If he is successful, the charge may be dismissed.

He faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Kamchee said he had undergone in-patient treatment and was attending counseling and 12-step meetings.

n District Judge Dave Gamble continued sentencing Tuesday for a 46-year-old woman who lasted a month before she violated her probation for grand larceny.

Gamble asked for a report from Carson City mental health court about Julie Beauregard who was arrested in January for probation violation following her sentencing in December.

Her lawyer, Derrick Lopez, said Carson City Judge William Maddox assigned her to mental health court.

"What's the justification other than you'd have to be crazy to violate your probation this quickly?" Gamble asked.

Gamble said he was prepared to order Beauregard to serve four years in Nevada State Prison, but he wanted to know why she was sentenced to mental health court before he made a decision. She admitted stealing $33,088 from her mother that she gambled away. Gamble set sentencing for May 20 on the probation violation.