Stephen Brian Jones was recently sentenced to 12–48 months in prison after pleading guilty to transporting a controlled substance, a category B felony.
Jones’ attorney, Jenny Hubach recommended that her client be placed on probation for no longer than five years with an underlying prison sentence of 24-60 months. She presented to the court a history supporting her recommendation for probation and said he would be a good candidate to successfully complete probation.
Hubach said that Jones had gone from growing up in a situation “riddled with crime,” to owning his own business to making poor decisions to support his family after being affected by the recession.
She said he has since done everything that has been asked of him, including traveling back to Winnemucca from North Carolina several times for court, and has since stayed away from drugs and illegal activity.
“We all are a product of our environment and circumstances,” said Hubach. “He wants to be a productive member of society and I’m asking you to give him that chance."
Deputy District Attorney Anthony Gordon presented to the court that Jones had served prison time previously for drug trafficking charges and disagreed with Hubach regarding the recommendation for Jones to be given probation.
“He knows the difference between right and wrong, he grew up in an area where he knew that drugs were bad,” said Gordon. “We have an individual basically who is not addicted and he chooses this because he wants the money.”
In Jones’ allocution statement, he presented to the court that he is a provider for his family and apologized for the choices which led him to be arrested. Jones spoke of his choices regarding Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the pressure to be a provider.
Jones is a 47-year-old college graduate, also reportedly facing drug trafficking charges in Oklahoma involving 400-500 pounds of Marijuana, along with five previous felony convictions.
Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Montero sentenced Jones to 12–48 months in prison for the charge with credit for time served of eight days, along with a $3 DNA fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $60 forensic fee.
“It is in many ways a unique case and also a case which brings me sadness here today to see and hear a gentleman that is articulate, has this long history of success and education and family and with all of that, makes choices that so gravely endanger your family and yourself, risking what could be a very long prison sentence considering this criminal history. It appears here that you got a really good deal not being prosecuted as a habitual criminal with five felony convictions,” said Montero.
