Carson City man gets probation in attempted burglary case

A 21-year-old Carson City man who pleaded guilty to entering into the home of a woman and her 6-day-old infant was sentenced to probation on one count of attempted burglary Tuesday morning in district court.

Judge James Wilson told Jeremy Hansen he considered his age and his criminal history. He also considered the nature of the offense Hansen admitted to in court: entering someone’s home.

Wilson gave Hansen a suspended sentence of 12 to 30 months, putting him on probation for up to the next five years. As part of the condition of his suspended sentence, Hansen will need to graduate from the Western Regional Drug Court program.

“Complete it or you go to prison,” Wilson said.

Hansen told Wilson he is getting himself on the right track.

“Now that I’m on the sober track to recovery, I’m going to (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings three to four times a week,” he told the judge. “I’m trying to get back on the straight path so I don’t do something like this again.”

Deputy District Attorney Melanie Porter argued Hansen had been given multiple breaks before, when he had pleaded down felony crimes to misdemeanors. That the victim was alone in the house with her 6-day-old baby was, too, a sore point.

“It was a horrible experience for the victim,” she said.

Hansen’s defense attorney, Jennifer Meredith, said Hansen made no move toward the woman.

According to the arrest report, the woman heard knocking on her front door but did not answer. Her dog started growling at the door to the garage, and she heard noises therein. When she walked toward it, Hansen walked in. He said he was there to a retrieve a tool out of the garage, then walked away from the woman.

“He wanted to minimize her fear,” Meredith said. “He has self-enrolled in counseling. He is already working the program” and three jobs.

She asked the judge to grant him the benefit of the diversion program, which he did not.

IN DISTRICT COURT

• Robert Cantrell, 35, of Carson City was sentenced to 15 to 48 months in prison Tuesday morning in district court after he pleaded guilty to sale or exchange of a controlled substance.

Wilson said he considered Cantrell’s record, as well as that he’d sold methamphetamine.

Deputy District Attorney Travis Lucia asked the judge to sentence him to a year to five years in prison. Cantrell was given the tools to deal with addiction in drug court but was unable to use them, he said.

Cantrell’s defense attorney, Kay Ellen Armstrong, said Cantrell is likeable and straightforward.

“He has always been prepared to plead guilty,” she said.

A year to four years in prison was appropriate, she argued.

“I’m guilty. I accept that,” Cantrell said. “I’m grateful. I completed drug court. That was the best time of my life, but I relapsed.”

His arrest, in the “back room of some nasty tweaker house,” was divine intervention, he said.

“I was praying, please God, help me. This (arrest) is God’s hand.”

• Miranda Jones, who is serving a five-year federal prison term, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain the personal information of another to defraud and to two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses. Sentencing was set for May 7.

• Carrie Lynn Kilgore received a suspended sentence of nine months and was ordered not to call 911 unless it is an emergency. Kilgore pleaded guilty to calling 911 to request a deputy sing her Neil Diamond.

Her probation is set to not exceed three years.

• Robert Allen, 21, of Storey County, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one count of grand larceny of items worth $3,500 or more.

Allen burglarized and stole items from a house in the Virginia City Highlands on Jan. 9, 2012. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the burglary count and the same on the grand larceny count. He pleaded guilty to taking money, jewelry and other personal items totalling $3,500 or more in value from the Virginia City Highlands residence.

His sentencing is set for June 21.

• Brandon Yauger, 38, of Storey County pleaded guilty to DUI third offense in seven years. Yauger told the judge he is “guilty as charged.” When asked if he did drive drunk, he answered Judge James Wilson with “Yes, sir, I did.”

He was arrested March 17 in Gold Hill for the DUI. He faces a maximum prison term of six years and a fine of $2,000 to $5,000.

On Monday: Ronnie Horse, also known as Ronnie Redcloud, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle worth $2,500 or more. He faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Horse’s passenger when he was pulled over, Joe Kizer, pleaded guilty to taking or driving away a vehicle without the consent of the owner. Judge James Wilson sentenced him to 30 days in jail with credit for time served and a $1,000 fine. He will be supervised until the fine and fees are entirely paid.

“Good luck,” Wilson told Kizer.