Driver in fatal rollover gets six more months for drug violation

A 27-year-old Minden man, already serving six months in jail for a fatal car crash, was sentenced Tuesday to an additional six months for possession of methamphetamine.

Jerett McAlister must serve the additional 180 days consecutive to his current sentence.

District Judge Dave Gamble said when the first six months is served, McAlister may apply for an in-patient substance abuse treatment program.

"I'm having you do six months and allowing you to get treatment just in case there is ever a time in your life when you actually want to quit using drugs," Gamble said.

Because of the level of the charge - possession of a controlled substance - Gamble had no choice but probation for McAlister.

But the judge set an underlying sentence of 48 months in Nevada State Prison, suspended, and placed him on five years probation.

McAlister's lawyer, Tom Perkins, asked that his client be sent back to drug court. McAlister already completed three years in Carson City drug court, but relapsed.

Perkins said he had a "strenuous problem" with sentencing McAlister to a year in jail as part of his probation.

"I am not trying to minimize what the told the officers," Perkins said.

"He was honest. He said he was selling small amounts to support his habit. This young man has potential. He has squandered it and burned a lot of bridges on the way, but he still has that potential."

Gamble said he has known McAlister since he was 14.

"He has squandered everything everyone has done for him, including me. He's basically scoffed at all the chances he was given," Gamble said.

The judge said he was offended at McAlister's justification for selling methamphetamine so the defendant could support his own habit.

That was echoed by prosecutor Karen Dustman.

"It's significant because it's an admission that he's selling, that he's willing to expose other people in our community to that addiction," Dustman said.

McAlister said he left drug court in Carson City because he wanted to sign up for a firefighters' academy in California and he couldn't if he was in drug court.

"Nor can you ever be a firefighter if you use methamphetamine," Gamble said. "Is that your way of supporting your family? By using crank?"

McAlister admitted that he and his girlfriend were using methamphetamine in his car when he was apprehended by his probation officer in March.

He told Gamble that his girlfriend's children were in school.

McAlister was the driver in a July 15, 2009, accident along Carson River that killed Christopher Medina, 22. McAlister was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.

He was found guilty on Feb. 18 of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 180 days in jail suspended for two years.

McAlister was arrested less than a month later after his probation officer received a tip he was dealing drugs and using methamphetamine.

His probation in the vehicular manslaughter was revoked and he was incarcerated in Douglas County Jail.