According to court documents, the confidential source arranged to buy methadone in the form of tablets from Jennifer Benjamin in April 2011.
After she was arrested, Benjamin, 43, was released on her own recognizance in October and left the area. A warrant was issued for her arrest and she was picked up in Elko County in February. Bail was set at $50,000.
Public defender Matt Stermitz sought a reduction in bail for his client on Monday, arguing that Benjamin will return to Elko where she has a job.
The district attorney's office had previously opposed releasing Benjamin again on OR or a bail reduction, noting in court records that Benjamin had been "on the run" after her prior release and the only reason she was in custody and in court Monday was due to her arrest on the warrant in Elko.
Judge Michael Montero ordered her bail reduced to $5,000.
She faces a possible sentence of 1-6 years when she is sentenced May 21.
In other cases Monday in Sixth District Court:
• Alfonso Pinuelas-Duran, 21, pleaded guilty to DUI with two prior convictions within the last seven years, a felony. Pinuelas-Duran has applied for a diversion program, which, if he qualifies and the judge orders, could head off a prison sentence. Sentencing was set for June 11.
• Michael Burnside, 31, pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of child abuse, neglect or endangerment. He was arrested after drug paraphernalia was found in a residence where children were located in December 2011. The residence was also described in court documents as unkempt.
Both the public defender and district attorney's office agreed that Burnside should be sentenced to drug court. If he successfully completes it, he can withdraw the guilty plea and the district attorney will dismiss charges.
• L.A. Cox pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit larceny not amounting to robbery, a gross misdemeanor, and was sentenced to time served in the county jail. Cox was asking for change in February at a Winnemucca business when he grabbed $10 out of a teen's hand. The money was returned to the victim.
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