A 39-year-old Gardnerville man who bit a Douglas County deputy trying to arrest him was sentenced Tuesday to one year in Douglas County Jail.
District Judge Dave Gamble sentenced Devon Overturf for battery on a police officer for the Sept. 22 incident. Overturf bit Deputy Leland Love on the right forearm as officers were trying to break up a fight with Overturf, his brother and father, and patrons of a Gardnerville sushi restaurant.
Referring to the violence of the crime, Gamble said, "We don't all bite officers of the law hard enough to tear their arm open and then they have to fear their going to die because of something somebody carried."
Love attended the sentencing and said he was undergoing frequent blood tests.
"Fortunately, I have suffered no illness or disease, but I will have to have additional blood tests, and I will carry a scar on my wrist as a constant reminder," Love said. "A year in jail might give him a chance to change his life."
Overturf apologized to the deputy.
"I just panicked. I'm really sorry for what I put Deputy Love through. I didn't mean it. I was just scared," Overturf said.
The suspect's attack on Love was followed by a domestic battery conviction on a woman that carried a six-month sentence in Douglas County Jail which Overturf is serving.
Gamble made Tuesday's sentence consecutive to the six months.
Overturf said he didn't think more jail time would do any good because he would just sit in custody when he could be undergoing treatment.
He put himself through an in-patient substance abuse treatment program and is in after care.
Lawyer Tod Young said he's represented Overturf for several years and "he's been essentially angry, drunk and unhappy."
Young said the fight was provoked by Overturf's father and brother who made racist remarks at the sushi restaurant that offended patrons who tried to get them to leave.
He said Devon Overturf didn't get involved until he tried to pull people off his brother.
Following the domestic battery arrest, Young said Overturf began to change, as evidenced by voluntarily undergoing substance abuse treatment.
Gamble said the sentencing was difficult because Overturf got help on his own which the judge commended.
But the flip side "was the stupidity and violence of the crime you committed," the judge said.
"Deputy Love should not have to subject himself to something like this when he's out trying to keep the peace," Gamble said. "I don't think a year in jail is going to do you any good, either, but you are being punished."
He encouraged Overturf to take advantage of jail programs.
"I want you to continue what you've done to get on with your life," Gamble said.
