Man admits felony domestic battery

Joel Moncibaz, 50, was arrested May 21 at Stateline after hitting his girlfriend.

Moncibaz had previously been convicted of a felony domestic battery in Stanislaus County in 2018.

According to attorney Martin Hart, plea negotiation led to Moncibaz facing a lesser charge. A subsequent felony domestic battery can lead to a 2-15-year prison sentence.

Moncibaz could receive probation at his Aug. 8 sentencing. He will remain in custody until then.

• A Reno man was sentenced to 12-30 months in prison on two counts of attempted abuse of a child by exploitation and solicitation of a child for prostitution Tuesday.

Jose Velazquez-Guerrero, 30, was arrested in July 2021 during an underage prostitution sting. 

 Velazquez-Guerrero contacted an officer who was posing as a 17-year-old female via an escort website and agreed to meet with her and pay $125 in exchange for sexual acts.

“Though it’s clear you have no criminal history prior to this offence, you have a job or rather two, and have cooperated, this crime is extravagant and Mr. Ferguson addressed the heart of that when he quoted you in the text exchange, ‘let’s do 125, because I can get in big trouble because you are 17.’ That gives me a glimpse at who you are and what you’d do if you think you are not being watched,” said District Court Judge Thomas Gregory. 

Velazquez-Guerrero was taken into custody to begin his sentence which will run concurrently.

• Just because a bad check victim is out of business doesn’t mean a thief isn’t responsible for making restitution.

A California man who failed to pay $2,775.32 to the Lakeside Inn stemming from several bad checks he tried to cash in 2015 will go to prison after his 2016 probation was revoked on Monday and a 1-4 year sentence imposed.

John Kyle Stevens, 30, admitted he violated his probation in the case. He did very little in the case, after he was released from a six-month jail term that was a condition for probation, prosecutor Patrick Ferguson said.

Part of the reason was that he went to prison in Arizona for four years after he received probation in Douglas.

Attorney Maria Pence pointed out that the Lakeside Inn has been closed for two years.

“A thief shouldn’t get to keep what he owes because you can’t find the victim,” Ferguson said. In cases where a victim of a crime can’t be found within three years, restitution payments go to the state victims of crime fund.

Stevens was given credit for 249 days time served and ordered to prison.

• Sentencing was delayed for a man facing revocation in three separate felony drug cases while he learns the status of a fourth.

James Albert Hernandez, 34, is scheduled to appear in Tahoe Township Justice Court on July 12 to learn what may occur as a result of a fourth arrest in Stateline.

On Monday, Hernandez admitted to violating all three violations. 

Prosecutor Patrick Ferguson said that Hernandez could face a combined 2-5 years in prison on the three pending cases alone.

• A man who was ordered to a regimental discipline program that has been discontinued is getting a taste of prison life while attorneys figure out how to get him back to Douglas for sentencing.

Donald Earl Robertson, 22, had his sentence deferred for six months in May while he worked the program.

However, on Monday, attorney Kris Brown said Robertson was kept in prison with a December release date even though he’d never been sentenced.

District Judge Tom Gregory signed an order to ensure Robertson is returned to Douglas for sentencing on July 11.

• A man who called 911 just before Thanksgiving to say he was being followed by the “Army from the Matrix” called his arrest “more of a rescue” during sentencing.

Christopher Warren Eddlemon, 32, received a suspended 12-30-month sentence on Monday, and was given credit for 228 days time served, on condition he complete Western Nevada Regional Drug Court.

Attorney Paul Yohey said Eddlemon spent most of his $250,000 inheritance on drugs. Eddlemon admitted to possession of a controlled substance and agreed to remain in custody until drug court starts on July 11.