Woman jailed on DUI charge, still faces six felonies

A 46-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos woman was ordered Wednesday to serve 41 days in jail for her second conviction of driving under the influence within seven years.

Roxanne Mason pleaded guilty to driving under the influence following her arrest Jan. 27. She was pulled over in a traffic stop, and the arresting officer said she was lethargic.

In searching her vehicle, Douglas County K9 officer Scout alerted for controlled substances and officers reportedly recovered heroin, paraphernalia and Xanax.

She told East Fork Justice Pro Tem Paul Gilbert on Wednesday that she had been taking methadone.

In exchange for her guilty plea to the DUI, a felony possession charge was dropped.

Gilbert sentenced her to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended for one year.

Mason still faces six felonies, accused of illegally obtaining methadone with forged prescriptions at three pharmacies Feb. 1-28.

She is charged with three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and three counts of burglary. Deputies were called when one of the pharmacists became suspicious because she recognized the suspect from an earlier visit.

Gilbert set a hearing April 28 on the six felonies. She is in Douglas County Jail on $50,000 cash bail on the new charges.

Mason's attorney Tod Young said she was receiving unemployment and the family had lost their home.

Instead of fining her $1,197 on the DUI charge, Gilbert added 11 days to her 30-day jail sentence.

Prosecutor Karen Dustman said Mason had prior DUIs in 2003 and 1997. Under Nevada law, three DUIs within seven years constitute a felony.