Lane Charlie Tom, 22, was sentenced in Sixth Judicial District Court last Tuesday for a sexual assault and kidnapping that occurred in downtown Winnemucca in September; Lane will spend a minimum of 25 years in prison for the crimes.
Tom was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years for the charge of sexual assault and life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years for the charge of kidnapping in the first degree with substantial bodily harm. Both charges are category A felonies.
Judge Michael Montero ordered that the sentences be served consecutively and that upon release Tom register for lifetime supervision.
Tom was represented Tuesday by his public defender Steve Cochran, who spoke on his client's behalf. Cochran argued for concurrent sentences for the charges based on the fact that Tom was only 21 at the time of the incident and still learning the effects of alcohol on the body.
"(Alcohol) was very much a contributing factor," Cochran said.
Cochran also cited Tom's less-than-ideal upbringing and his remorse about the incident as reasons to give him concurrent sentences. Cochran said Tom "very much desires" to stop drinking and recognizes and apologizes for his actions.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Kevin Pasquale said he disagreed with almost everything Cochran said. While he recognized that Tom's upbringing wasn't ideal, he said that was no excuse for his actions.
"There are people who have had worse and not done what he has done," he said.
Pasquale referenced Tom's lengthy criminal history and mentioned his first battery arrest in 2004 and first alcohol-related arrest in 2006. He said Tom's criminal activity has escalated in the past 10 years and that history indicates Tom is "remorseless." He went on to say that it's easy to claim remorse when faced with a life sentence.
Pasquale said Tom has "earned every day of both of those life sentences," and asked the court for consecutive sentences.
"The court would be well served to keep Tom away from society for the rest of his natural born life," he said.
Tom entered a not guilty plea to both charges on Nov. 5 and was found guilty of those charges by a jury on Feb. 13. He was arrested in McDermitt on Sept. 4 after an investigation into the incident which left the female victim with broken bones and tissue damage to the face.
According to court documents, Tom enticed the victim out of a local bar under false pretenses and took her to a nearby secluded area where he then sexually penetrated her and kicked and/or punched her.
In other Sixth Judicial District Court cases last week:
• Andrew Cody Sevy, 23, was sentenced to 19-48 months in prison for the crime of assault with a deadly weapon for an incident that occurred in December.
Sevy's public defender, Matthew Stermitz, said although his client has bounced around the court system with misdemeanors, his feet were never held to the fire. Stermitz argued that Sevy should be given an opportunity at drug court as a condition of probation.
"I think we really ought to give him the chance to go through a structured program," Stermitz said.
Stermitz said he was "lamenting" and feeling frustrated that the incident wasn't prevented in the first place through some sort of treatment program.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Kevin Pasquale said he didn't agree with everything Stermitz said, but did disagree with the concept that Sevy's actions weren't his own fault.
"Where's Mr. Sevy's responsibility for his continued criminal conduct?" Pasquale asked.
He went on to reference Sevy's criminal history which consists of trouble with guns, drinking and violence. Pasquale said his criminal conduct has escalated and agreed with the Divison of Parole and Probation's recommendation for prison time.
Sevy said he understands he committed a serious crime, but asked for the opportunity to address his drinking problem rather then be be sent to prison.
"If you give me probation I will succeed at everything you guys put me up to," he said.
Judge Michael Montero called the case a difficult one because of Sevy's young age, but said his criminal history had to be considered.
Sevy was arrested on Dec. 22 after Humboldt County Sheriffs Deputies responded to a report of shots fired. Deputies later learned Sevy had "had words" with another individual in the driveway of a residence, according to an HCSO news release at the time. As the truck was driven away, two shots were heard. Sevy was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Contact Jessica Powell at j.powell@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
