Mother admits lewdness with daughters

A 32-year-old former Topaz Ranch Estates woman admitted Monday that she aided her ex-husband in the sexual abuse and exploitation of their two young daughters.

Stacy Thoman pleaded guilty to attempted lewdness with a child under age 14 and child abuse and neglect.

District Judge Michael Gibbons set sentencing for June 15.

Thoman faces up to 26 years in Nevada State Prison, and is eligible for probation if she is determined through a psychosexual evaluation to be at low risk to reoffend.

Gibbons also made Thoman's $100,000 bail bondable which means she could be released from Douglas County Jail where's she's been held since March 27 if she can raise $10,000.

According to the guilty plea agreement, the state is free to argue at sentencing and provide the court with other information.

Thoman, represented by Reno lawyer Cheryl Field-Lang, was barely audible as she answered Gibbons' questions.

Her ex-husband, Kevan Thoman, 36, was sentenced in Washoe County last week to life in prison plus 20 years for his part in the abuse which officials say lasted for eight years.

According to reports, the crimes in Douglas County allegedly occurred from October 2004 until February 2008, while Thoman and her ex-husband lived on Granite Way in Topaz Ranch Estates, and continued after the family moved to Reno.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Stacy Thoman will be under lifetime supervision of the Department of Parole and Probation and must register as a sex offender.

She originally was charged with six felonies and faced life in prison.

Gibbons is free to consider all charges at sentencing.

"You actually did these acts specifically with the intent of sexual gratification or acted as principal. A principal is considered equally guilty," Gibbons said.

Gibbons denied Field-Lang's request that the court allocate $1,500 so her client could be evaluated by a female psychologist.

"The possible punishment is very severe," Field-Lang said. "It's very important Ms. Thoman be interviewed by a female psychologist."

In light of new information, Field-Lang said a woman would provide "a more enlightened report as to what happened."

"If justice is to be served in this matter, the court must receive a full and accurate picture of who this young lady is and what happened," Field-Lang said.

Gibbons said Thoman could use a psychologist provided by Parole and Probation, or she was free to hire her own, but he would not pay with court funds.

In arguing for Stacy Thoman's release, Field-Lang said the children, now 12 and 15, had regressed since their mothers incarceration.

Prosecutor Laurie Trotter argued against a lower bail.

"She just pleaded guilty to two very serious charges," Trotter said. "The state intends to ask for substantial prison time."

Field-Lang said Stacy Thoman had been cleared by a parental capacity evaluation as "not a threat to the health and safety of her children."

Field-Lang pointed out that Stacy Thoman was the one who reported the crimes to the Reno Police Department last summer even though she implicated herself.

She said the defendant had made several trips a week from her home in South Lake Tahoe to counseling sessions with her daughters in Reno prior to her arrest in March.

"It might sound strange to say, but those kids are the most important things in her life," Field-Lang said.

The children are living with relatives.