Burglar sent to prison for alcohol offense

A 20-year-old burglar who violated probation by drinking alcohol was ordered Monday to serve five years in prison.

District Judge Michael Gibbons revoked probation for Matthew Golden who has been in custody since he was arrested in August for minor consuming.

He and his former wife Amanda were sentenced in February and May for a string of burglaries committed in October 2008. At the time, Matthew Golden was home on leave from the U.S. Army where he was serving as a military policeman.

"Had I known the full scope of what went on, you might not have received probation in the first place," Gibbons said.

Golden admitted several probation violations including drinking alcohol, not reporting to his probation officer, changing his residence without notice, failure to pay fees and fines or find employment.

Golden has served several months in jail while awaiting sentencing, as part of probation and for the probation violation.

"I got out of jail and just went back to using drugs and alcohol. I need help. I know if you send me to prison, I'll get some help, but not all the help I need. I know I messed up. I can't put it on anybody else but myself," Golden said.

Lawyer Tod Young asked that Gibbons reinstate probation and send Golden to a six-month inpatient treatment program run by the Salvation Army.

Prosecutor Laurie Trotter objected.

"Although the recommendation sounds like a good idea for the defendant, look at the number of violations. He has pretty much not complied with anything," Trotter said.

The Goldens were sentenced Dec. 27 to five years probation that included jail time after they admitted breaking into Northwest Martial Arts studio in Gardnerville in October 2008.

In February, they were charged with burglaries at Pizza Factory which occurred the same week as the martial arts studio burglary.

The Goldens originally denied the second set of charges, but confessed in February while in custody.

Amanda Golden is out of jail and participating in Western Regional Drug Court.