Cocaine salesman gets year in jail, probation

A 34-year-old Reno man who sold nearly 100 grams of cocaine in Douglas County was sentenced Monday to one year in Douglas County Jail and ordered to pay $2,700 restitution.

District Judge Michael Gibbons sentenced George Batson to six years in prison, suspended, and placed him on five years probation.

He ordered Batson to report to Washoe County authorities where he faces similar charges and return to Douglas County on Feb. 9 if he is not in custody.

Batson and co-defendant Randall Fletcher were arrested in January 2008 after selling to undercover officers on three occasions.

Gibbons based his decision on the fact that Fletcher received probation and Batson provided assistance to Washoe County officials in other cases.

Prosecutor Tom Gregory asked for a 2-to-5-year prison sentence.

"I don't believe he should get the same benefit down here," Gregory said. "Originally when he was arrested he didn't want to help. The defendant likes to carry firearms. The co-defendant indicated he (Batson) would get in a shootout to avoid prison. We did not deal with him here because of safety issues.

"He's getting a huge benefit in Washoe County and I don't think he should double-dip down here," Gregory said.

Gregory said Batson moved a lot of cocaine in Douglas County and was a threat to the community and to law enforcement.

Batson's attorney, Marc Picker, said Batson, a former state corrections employee, was attending dozens of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

"He's doing it to fix his life," Picker said.

Batson said he had been clean for a year.

Gibbons said the case looked "egregious" because of the weapon and the large amounts of drugs. He asked Batson if he would have used the weapon.

"No, your honor, I am not that stupid," Batson said.

Gibbons said he was concerned about Batson's safety in custody because he worked for the prison system.

He ordered letters, reports from the Washoe County District Attorney's Office and other parts of the transcript sealed.

As part of Batson's probation, he is subject to search and seizure and must perform 100 hours of community service.

He must abstain from drugs and alcohol and forfeit the weapon found at his arrest.

"You have no priors, you did a good job with law enforcement and you've been clean since your arrest. Try to put this behind you as egregious as it was. You have no leeway on probation. If you violate, you're going to prison," Gibbons said.