Woman sent to drug court for theft from brother

MINDEN - A Carson City woman, who drained nearly $4,000 from the bank account of her brother in the military, was granted deferred sentencing Monday and ordered to pay $100 a month restitution.

District Judge Michael Gibbons ordered Kristi Lynn Reed, 34, to successfully complete Western Regional Drug Court or face up to five years in prison.

"Your life is right on the edge of going over. With the way you were using drugs, you are in danger of losing your life," Gibbons said.

Reed told Gibbons she was to start work this month and was going to school part time to earn her masters degree.

According to reports, Reed reportedly wrote 24 checks to herself and friends totaling more than $3,685 on her brother's credit union account in July and August.

The crime was discovered when her brother, reviewing his account online, noticed it was overdrawn and recognized his sister's handwriting on the check facsimiles.

The victim's father reported the crime to authorities. He said the suspect, who is his daughter, stayed at his residence occasionally when her brother was not home. That's where she had access to the checks among her brother's belongings.

Reed said she used the money to buy drugs. She told Gibbons she had been clean since her arrest and had been attending drug court in Douglas County and Carson City.

She missed a test the first week and spent five days in Carson City Jail.

"I have not missed any tests since or had a dirty test," she said.

The victim did not appear Monday, but prosecutor Erik Levin said Reed's brother and father supported her continued participation in drug court.

"Drug court is your best chance to stay drug free. Working and going to school, you have a great future," Gibbons said.