A 39-year-old Carson City man who admitted helping a woman take more than $20,000 in items from her parents' house for drugs was sentenced Monday to five years in Nevada State Prison.
Randal Green, who has a lengthy criminal record, pleaded with District Judge Michael Gibbons for probation, saying he was ready to stay out of trouble, and to be a father to his 8-year-old son.
Green blamed his problems on methamphetamine use.
"I have a lot to lose this time," Green said.
He told Gibbons his son was waiting for him outside in the parking lot with his grandfather.
"I don't know what's going to happen if I don't walk out this door," Green said. "This drug (methamphetamine) has taken everything from me."
Green's codefendant, Ashley Rund, 24, was given a deferred sentence Nov. 29 and allowed to participate in Western Regional Drug Court. According to reports, she and Green entered her mother and stepfather's Gardnerville home on Aug. 6 while her family was out of town.
They reportedly took jewelry, a metal detector and an electric guitar and an amplifier that were presents for Rund's brother on his 10th birthday.
Rund pleaded guilty to theft. She has no prior criminal record while Green's record dates 14-15 years.
Prosecutor Erik Levin said Green had 13 convictions, including four felonies and seven incarcerations with multiple parole violations and drug treatment programs.
Gibbons wanted to know why Rund's family was satisfied with her paying $550 restitution and wanted Green to pay $21,295.
Emphasizing he prefers to sentence codefendants together, Gibbons said he would review the terms of Rund's restitution.
Rund's stepfather testified Wednesday that Green took more than the items from their home.
He addressed Green directly after several minutes of emotional testimony.
"You can have whatever you can take, but leave my daughter alone. That's what got taken away - my daughter and my life," he said.
The man said he and his wife had been battling Rund's drug addiction for three years and her involvement with Green.
Her mother said Green was a predator.
"I'm lucky my daughter is alive. I think this guy is a predator. He shouldn't be able to do this to anyone else," she said.
Green's mother testified her son began using drugs at 13, and she'd seen a change since her son's arrest.
"This time has been very special. He is truly getting his personality back. I can see he wants to be a father for the first time since the drugs have ruined his life," she said.
Green's attorney Derrick Lopez said he could understand why Rund's family would look for a scapegoat.
"It's human nature," he said. "They hold their daughter equally responsible for the crime, but blame Mr. Green for everything else."
"But for Ashley, this crime wouldn't have occurred," Lopez said. "Ashley knew her parents were out of town; it was Ashley who left a drug rehabilitation program early; Ashley went to Duke Maita for drugs."
Lopez said Green could have said no to Rund's alleged invitation to steal from her mother and stepfather.
"But for her, Mr. Green would not have been involved in this crime," Lopez said.
Lopez said his client got a metal detector and $200 from the crime. He pleaded guilty to theft.
Green claimed Rund took the haul to Duke Maita who lives in Carson City.
"Duke ended up with everything," he said.
He apologized to Rund's family and his mother.
"I didn't egg her on. She would always get hold of me," he said. "They called me a predator. I can't believe they even think of me like that."
In sentencing Green, Gibbons pointed out his lengthy criminal record and his often unsatisfactory response to probation and supervision.
"Your criminal record is largely uninterrupted," Gibbons said.
He said Green had been out of prison for just a year when the new offense occurred.
Green interrupted to say he couldn't get a job and ran into the wrong people.
"Obviously your family hasn't been a high priority," Gibbons said.
He also denied Green's request to delay imposition of sentencing until after Christmas. Green is eligible for probation in 12 months and received credit for 14 days in custody.
Gibbons ordered Green to pay $17,578 restitution after deducting insurance reimbursement for the victims. The judge said he would review Rund's restitution order and determine if she should be responsible for more than the cost of her brother's guitar and amplifier.
