Fentanyl possession earns maximum suspended sentence

A father’s plea on behalf of his son resulted in giving a woman a chance at probation.

Lindsay Anne Peterson, 38, was sentenced Sept. 10 to a suspended 16-year sentence on condition she successfully complete the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court.

Peterson is the most important person in the child’s life, his father told District Judge Tod Young.

“She’s an amazing mother when she’s not on drugs,” he said. “He misses her and wants her back in her life.”

Peterson admitted she had 46 grams of fentanyl where her child could reach it when she was arrested on Oct. 27, 2023.

Young sentenced Peterson to 4-10 years on a count of high level possession of drugs and up to six years for child endangerment to be served consecutively if she fails out of the program.

But for the man’s statement, Young said he would have sent Peterson to prison.

“There’s nothing in your record that indicates you’re a good candidate for probation,” he said.

Prosecutor Ric Casper said she had 23 prior convictions including three felonies. Peterson received a suspended 12-34-month sentence for heroin possession in 2018.

• A Lake Tahoe man faces up to eight years in prison after he admitted to a felony charge of high level possession of a controlled substance.

Paul Edward Baum, 37, entered a guilty plea to high level possession of methamphetamine on July 30. He reportedly had 77 grams of the drug. Prosecutors agreed not to seek more than 96 months in prison and a $2,000 fine. The charge carries a 2-15-year sentence and a $50,000 fine. Baum is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12.

Baum received a suspended 12-32-month prison sentence in June 2020, which was reinstated two years ago.

• An Arizona man, who claimed he still has his job at a Tucson care facility, will have to take a detour through Nevada prison, first.

Sergio Borquez Chacon, 52, was sentenced Sept. 10 to two prison terms of 12-32 months and 12-30 months to be served simultaneously.

He admitted to grand larceny of a motor vehicle and fraudulent use of a credit card in the theft of his ex-girlfriend’s Kia Sorrento and running up $416 in charges on her credit.

• A woman admitted to writing $1,725 in bad checks to Sharkeys and failure to appear in court after she was released.

Leonna Lynn Mortimer faces up to four years in prison on the two counts, but under an agreement, prosecutors wouldn’t oppose diversion if she completes Western Nevada Regional Drug Court.

According to court documents, Mortimer wrote the checks between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2023.

 She is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Nov. 12.