Man says he was on way to court when arrested with 97 grams of methamphetamine

A man who claimed he was on his way to take care of a citation when he was arrested on a warrant admitted he was carrying 97 grams of methamphetamine.

Erik Alexander Hartmann, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of high-level possession of methamphetamine.

Under an agreement, attorneys will recommend 2-5 years in prison but are free to argue whether that should be suspended. The charge carries an up to 15-year prison sentence and a $50,000 fine.

Hartmann has been in Douglas County custody since June 13.

Attorney Mary Brown sought Hartmann’s release, saying he suffered from physical and mental ailments and was concerned that his medical alert service dog find a permanent location.

He told the judge the dog has been with him since it was 8 months old and has saved his life five times.

“The dog is the only thing I have left,” he said.

Brown said he was initially cited for possession of paraphernalia.

She said he suffers trauma due to the loss of two homes, including one in the Lehaina fire in Hawaii last year. She said he had a card from FEMA regarding the wildfire.

Prosecutor Bill Murphy argued against releasing Hartmann saying authorities intercepted a letter in which he tells the person caring for the dog and who he planned to stay with not to mention they are moving soon. Murphy said that showed Hartmann was attempting to deceive the court.

The judge denied the request and set a sentencing date for Oct. 8.

Brown said that Hartmann was battered by another prisoner and that charge is being pursued.

A Carson Valley man was ordered to participate in Western Nevada Regional Drug Court as a condition of his probation for possession of methamphetamine.

Richard Green III, 41, was arrested April 11. He has two prior felonies and so was not eligible for mandatory diversion.

His underlying sentence is 12-30 months suspended for 18 months.

• A no-bail, nationwide warrant was issued on Tuesday for a 37-year-old Gardnerville man who has been on a treatment program since 2020.

Jesse Chance Johnson failed to appear in court for a deferral review on Tuesday.

He was ordered to participate in the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court program in October 2020 after he was arrested the previous year for passing a marijuana pipe in a car parked next to the Douglas County Judicial & Law Enforcement Center.

• A nationwide, no-bail warrant was issued for a South Lake Tahoe man who admitted to burglary of a business but failed to return to court on Tuesday for sentencing.

Torrell Lashon Montgomery, 34, was arrested in connection with a theft at the Topsy Walmart on May 26. Prosecutors were recommending a 12-30-month suspended sentence, but his failure to appear may jeopardize that agreement.

• A man who owes $80,000 in child support appeared in court on Monday where his sentencing was advanced after he’d failed to make any payments over the past year.

Eric John Cook, 50, is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 30 after failing to make payments agreed to under his diversion.

Cook agreed to pay $1,350 a month on condition he made a $30,000 payment in October.

The charge is a Class C felony and carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, and Cook will still owe the child support.

• A man who admitted to possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl will receive diversion despite denying he was an addict in court on Monday.

The diversion was mandatory, so Jeremy Lee Daley, 50, will get to go to Western Nevada Regional Drug Court on the two cases. Should he fail he could face up to eight years in prison.

• A man admitted he disseminated five intimate images of a woman without her permission.

Jason Louis Farley faces up to 1-4 years and a $5,000 fine at his Nov. 5 sentencing.

According to court documents, Farley disseminated the images to harass the woman.