Trial vacated in burglary case

An April trial was vacated on Feb. 27 after a Reno man entered a no-contest plea to residential burglary.

Daniel Angel DeJesus, 27, faces up to 10 years in prison in connection with the burglary that occurred March 28, 2023, off Pinenut Road. After dropping off two women at the address, DeJesus allegedly entered the home with a baseball bat and hit the resident demanding money. The resident drew a machete and cut DeJesus, who withdrew along with the women.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16.

• A new trial was set for a Reno man after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case after a Nov. 28 mistrial.

Curtis James Brahic appeared in Douglas County District Court on Feb. 27 on felony charges of robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary of a business.

Brahic is accused of displaying a weapon when Walmart security challenged him as he was leaving the store on Dec. 30, 2022.

He was the subject of a Jan. 4, 2023, bulletin that resulted in his identification and arrest at a Reno casino the following week.

Brahic is denying the charges and had hoped the case would be dismissed.

However, District Judge Tod Young ruled the error in the charging document that caused the mistrial wasn’t intentional and set a May 29-31 trial date.

• A woman was sent to prison after she admitted violating her probation for possession of methamphetamine.

Leslie Marie Johnson stipulated to the revocation of her probation and was ordered to serve her 13-36-month sentence.

Johnson was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, a year after she was arrested for possession in a vehicle. She was released to participate in a treatment program but walked away. She was given credit for 162 days time served.

• A man with 10 felony convictions was ordered to spend 364 days in jail in connection with an April 8, 2022, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

Phillip Paul Heers has spent the last two years in custody, mostly in California where he is still on parole, according to attorney Brian Filter.

“I’ve done a lot of growing up in the last two years,” Heers said. “I’m ready to move on and do better.”

District Judge Tod Young pointed out that four of Heers’ convictions were very similar to the one he faced on Tuesday.

“You have to quit being a thief because you’ve been caught a ton of times. You’re not very good at it.”

The theft occurred April 8, 2022, when he took a Dodge Durango. He was arrested after DNA was found on a cigarette butt found near the scene of the theft.

• That a bunch of white powder found after a Grass Valley man was arrested last year for driving recklessly ended up being baking soda may have saved him from prison.

Ian Andrew Heffernan, 32, admitted a count of possession of 19.25 grams of methamphetamine.

Heffernan was arrested June 19, 2023, driving through Minden and Gardnerville wearing ski goggles in a red Subaru.

“I do recognize I have issues,” he said. “I act like a jackass when I use. It was crazy and horrible and I’m ashamed of myself.”

“The fact you use is the problem,” Judge Tod Young replied.

Heffernan was ordered to participate in a substance abuse program and do 80 hours of community service.