Drug offender to serve prison terms together

A man, who admitted he violated his probation for possession of a controlled substance and then admitted he had suboxine in the jail will serve all his sentences simultaneously.

Michael Thomas Miller, 34, is serving a 14-48-month prison sentence out of Carson City where he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance.

Under an agreement Miller was sentenced to 1-3-years in a 2021 case where he admitted to having heroin and Ecstasy.

After he was sentenced in Carson City in December he was transferred to Douglas County where he was found with the suboxine and charged with another possession charge.

He was originally arrested June 17, 2020, driving a misappropriated rental car. A sentence out of Tahoe Township Justice Court will be served concurrently with the other two sentences.

• A 53-year-old Gardnerville woman was sentenced to 1-3 years in prison on Monday for possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Tara Brooks Ellis-Goff was returned to Douglas County on a bench warrant on Feb. 16.

She received 105 days time served.

• A nationwide no-bail warrant was issued for the arrest of a Dayton woman who was removed from Western Nevada Regional Drug Court and didn’t appear in district court on Feb. 21.

Rebekka Jean Sutton, 30, was told to appear in person with attorney Alan Erb when she was discharged from the drug court.

She is facing a 1-4-year prison sentence that was deferred after she was ordered to participate in the drug court in August. 

• A Lake Tahoe woman who withdrew from the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court will face sentencing on April 11. 

Brittanie Leanne Lane, 32, admitted to possession of a controlled substance for sale on July 27, 2021, and she was permitted to attend the drug court program.

Lane was arrested in 2019 after being involved with the sale of 40 grams of methamphetamine between May 17 and June 4, 2019.

She was granted diversion in July 2021. 

She has been in custody since Feb. 4.

• A 21-year-old college student admitted to a count of possession of a controlled substance on Tuesday.

Reno resident Alejandro Arturo Andrade was arrested with methamphetamine on July 9, 2022.

Attorney Martin Hart said he expects to file paperwork for a diversion for Andrade. If he is granted diversion, he could avoid a felony conviction. Unless it’s determined otherwise, he would face mandatory probation at his sentencing on April 25.

• A 69-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates resident admitted Tuesday to felony failure to register as a sex offender.

Daniel Ruben Baligad was arrested on Oct. 16, 2022, after a traffic stop for expired license plates when a background check revealed he was required to register.

According to the Nevada Sex Offenders Registry, Baligad was convicted in 1987 of having sex with someone under the age of 18 in San Diego. 

Prosecutors are recommending a suspended 12-30-month prison term at his April 4 sentencing.

Baligad was warned on Tuesday that if he fails to register again in seven years he could face a mandatory prison term.

• A man faces either a gross misdemeanor or felony after he admitted Tuesday he failed to register as a sex offender.

Jason Lee Thornton could face up to four years in prison if the judge decides to treat the charge as a felony at sentencing on April 4.

Thornton admitted to a charge of attempted failure to register.

He was convicted of sexual assault on a child in Colorado.

• A Topaz Ranch Estates man who spent $17,000 in advance money he received for a remodel admitted to felony diversion of funds on Feb. 21.

Dennis Henry Coughlin faces mandatory probation, but prosecutors agreed to seek no additional jail time.

Coughlin admitted to taking $17,000 from a Lake Tahoe couple on June 25, 2020. He also owes $1,600 to Meeks and $568 to the Nevada Contractor’s Board. He admitted to a misdemeanor count of engaging in contracting without a license.

Coughlin said he had some of the restitution in his pocket during the hearing. He is scheduled to be sentences on April 11. The charge carries a felony sentence of 1-4 years in prison. 

• A man faces up to five years in prison after his diversion for failing to support a minor child was revoked on Monday.

Jason Jerome Altig failed to appear in district court in December and he was returned to Douglas County on Feb. 16.

He was ordered to return to court for sentencing on April 10.