Herbert S. Olson was sentenced to prison Monday in Sixth Judicial District Court for transporting a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for sale; his sentence came three attorneys, two years and one jury trial after his arrest.
Olson was sentenced to 12-48 months for the first count and 12-34 months for the second count. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
There was a heavy law enforcement presence at the courthouse for Olson's hearing Monday in response to a letter he sent to his current attorney, Steve Evenson, threatening those involved in the case. Evenson shared the letter with Judge Richard Wagner out of concern after speaking with the State Bar of Nevada to make sure he was taking the appropriate action.
Wagner read an excerpt from the email directed to the court, Evenson and the state that said, "All three of you have no idea what's going to happen," in reference to Monday's proceedings. The email went on to say, "To think I will be a good boy is absolutely out of the question."
The main theme of Olson's email was what he referred to as the county's lack of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; in this case he was specifically referring to his inability to wheel himself up the entrance ramp to the courthouse.
This isn't the first time Olson has threatened lawsuits against the county for related matters and Wagner said Monday he was using it as a way to delay proceedings.
"We have had considerable issues getting to this point," Wagner said. "He has used lawsuit threats to disrupt proceedings."
Wagner said he took the appropriate action of meeting with law enforcement to ensure the safety of those involved in the case.
"I had no idea whether we would be faced with weapons or a bomb," he said. "First and foremost is the security of this court."
Despite Olson's insistence that he would not allow anyone to assist him into the courthouse, he appeared in court Monday being pushed by a Humboldt County Sheriff's deputy.
Evenson told Wagner "it has been a trying time," and said his client was very uncommunicative with him in regard to his sentencing.
"I believe he would ask for probation," Evenson said, and went on to say that Olson should be treated like any other defendant in his position despite the procedural history of the case and be given the opportunity of probation.
Deputy District Attorney Richard Haas said it is because of that procedural history the state decided to argue for prison time rather than probation. Haas said Olson has made it clear that he is not suited for a term of probation.
"I think a department of corrections sentence would be appropriate," he said.
The only thing Olson had to say in regard to his sentencing was that he is the sole caregiver of his 90-year-old father but Wagner said Olson had the chance to prove he was a good fit for probation when he was allowed to remain out of custody on his own recognizance after he was found guilty.
"You failed the test," Wagner said.[[In-content Ad]]
