William Mason Farnsworth, age 19 was recently allowed the chance to avoid three felony convictions by completing 36 months of probation and the Humboldt County Adult Drug Court program.
Farnsworth was arrested on three separate occasions and charged with felonies, all of which he pleaded guilty to in Sixth Judicial District Court before Judge Michael Montero.
He was arrested on March 26, 2020, by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, burglary and grand larceny of a gun; he had a $45,000 bail.
On June 2, 2020, Farnsworth pleaded guilty to one count category B possession of a stolen firearm in which the penalty includes one to 10 years in prison, a maximum of $10,000 fine and eligibility for probation.
On June 5, 2020, Farnsworth was arrested by the HCSO on felony charges of possession of stolen property and burglary with a $30,000 bail. He pleaded guilty to a category C felony charge of buying or receiving stolen goods in court on July 28.
The penalty for the possession of stolen property felony includes one to five years in prison, a maximum $10,000 fine and the possibility to be ordered to pay restitution or complete probation in lieu of prison.
Farnsworth was arrested on July 30 by the Winnemucca Police Department and charged with felony conspiracy to commit a crime in regards to attempted burglary and possession of methamphetamine with a $7,500 bail.
On August 25, he pleaded guilty to a category E felony possession of a controlled substance charge in which he admitted to possessing methamphetamine in Humboldt County on July 30. The category E felony carries a penalty of one to four years in prison with mandatory probation in Nevada.
Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 176.211 allows for the deferral of the judgment of a felony upon a plea of guilty with specific terms and conditions specified by the court with consent from the defendant. The terms and conditions may include a term of probation and completion of a specialty court.
Once the defendant completes all requirements of the deferral, charges against the defendant may be dismissed without adjudication of guilt.
Farnsworth’s attorney Humboldt County Public Defender Matthew Stermitz told the court that his client has a significant substance abuse issue and filed a request to defer judgment on the three felony cases per the new deferral law, which took effect on July 1, 2020.
According to the new law, a plea agreement must allow for judgment deferral in order for the court to be able to order it.
“I feel like probation and drug court would be a great opportunity and it would really help me turn my life around,” Farnsworth told the court.
Montero ordered that the judgment in all three felony cases be deferred according to the new law and Farnsworth was placed on probation with several conditions including completing the Humboldt County Adult Drug Court Program and all terms of probation were ordered to run concurrently.
In the category B felony case, Farnsworth was ordered to 36 months of probation, completion of drug court, prohibition from contacting victims in the case and paying a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $250 public defender fee.
On the category C felony, he was ordered to 24 months of probation and to pay a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $250 public defender fee.
On the category E felony, he was ordered to 18 months of probation and to pay a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment fee, $60 forensic fee and $250 public defender fee.
