WINNEMUCCA - McKenzie Dupree Singer, who pleaded guilty to attempted burglary after leading law enforcement on a high speed car chase that ended in Humboldt County, was sentenced last week in Sixth Judicial District Court to 18 to 45 months in prison.
Singer was taken into custody at gunpoint in November after a carjacking in Churchill County and a high speed car chase on Interstate 80 that ended in Humboldt County.
Singer's public defender, Matt Stermitz, argued that because the offense originated in Churchill County, probation in Humboldt County would be appropriate so that Churchill can "come and get him and deal with him."
At the same time, Stermitz acknowledged that Singer has an extensive criminal history and asked Judge Michael Montero to sentence Singer to a 12-month minimum if he did decide to go with prison time.
Deputy District Attorney Jason Dworin disagreed with Stermitz and asked that Singer be given the maximum sentence allowed by law.
"When I looked at his record I was stunned," Dworin said. "He takes cars and does violence to people."
Dworin said that Singer's criminal history has not abated in recent years and has continued to remain steady.
Singer himself acknowledged that he did need to take responsibility for his actions and that he did have an extensive criminal history but argued that he had never actually hurt a person. His request mirrored Stermitz's: he wanted probation so that he could be dealt with in Churchill County where the original crime occurred.
"I wasn't trying to steal a car here. I was asking for help," he said. "The only law I broke here was DUI and I served my time for that."
The Division of Parole and Probation recommended a sentence in between what the state and defense were asking for: 14 to 36 months.
The incident began after an elderly couple near Fernley stopped to help the driver of a pickup that had crashed on Interstate 80, according to the Associated Press. The driver, Singer, overpowered the couple and drove away in their vehicle.
The Nevada Highway Patrol was alerted of the stolen vehicle and trooper Johnny Peoples saw the driver traveling eastbound on Interstate 80. He clocked Singer at 124 mph, according to NHP Sgt. Greg Johnson.
After turning around and attempting to catch up to Singer, Peoples saw a cloud of dust where the vehicle had crashed near mile marker 169. According to NHP, the crash was a result of Singer's attempt to pass two commercial vehicles. Following the accident, Singer exited the vehicle and attempted to overtake a commercial vehicle whose driver had stopped. Peoples was able to apprehend Singer at that time and take him into custody at gunpoint.
Judge Montero denied the defense's request for probation and ordered Singer to serve a sentence of 18 to 45 months with credit for 120 days served.
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