Ralph Virgil was recently given another chance at probation after admitting to several probation violations one year after being placed under court supervision.
Virgil was serving an original probation sentence of four years after pleading guilty to hitting another man with his car in a casino parking lot, without serious injury but with the potential for such.
At the time of sentencing, Virgil was ordered to participate in mental health and anger management counseling, along with abstaining from alcohol or controlled substances.
He was also ordered to serve 90 days in jail over the term of his four year probation period, allowing him to care for his disabled wife.
The probation violations Virgil admitted to included abstaining from the use of alcohol or controlled substances and keeping up with financial obligations and fees. There has been more than one occasion during his probation in which he tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine.
Public Defender Matthew Stermitz asked the court to allow Virgil to stay on probation with added substance abuse treatment.
Virgil asked the court to give him one more chance at probation, stating that he had not been regularly taking psychological medications when the violations occurred and said that he now has his psychological medications adjusted and set to where he feels “a whole lot better.”
Virgil said if the court gives him another chance and he screws up in any way, he will be more than happy to serve 10 years in prison.
“I just need to get on with my life and square my life up,” said Virgil.
District Court Judge Michael Montero granted the reinstatement of probation for Virgil, along with enrolling him in the mental health court program where he will be required to check-in with the court on a regular, scheduled basis and be required to follow recommendations of his physicians relating to medication management.
