Three individuals were recently given the chance to complete a term of probation to avoid a felony conviction on their record in the Sixth Judicial District Court in Winnemucca.
Crysta Coleman, age 27, pleaded guilty to felony abuse, neglect or endangerment of a child, a category B felony in Nevada earlier this year.
Coleman admitted to causing a 3-year old child to suffer unjustifiable mental suffering as a result of abuse or neglect on March 21, 2020.
Coleman’s attorney, Humboldt County Public Defender Matthew Stermitz told the court that she had completed a child abuse risk assessment which showed that she is at a low risk to re-offend. He also said that she had spent time in the Navy and in this instance, she lost her temper with a child that she was babysitting.
Coleman and her attorney asked Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Montero to allow her to complete a term of probation which would allow her to withdraw her guilty plea to the felony and instead plead guilty to a gross misdemeanor child abuse charge after completion.
Coleman apologized to the court and everyone affected by the incident.
“I’d like to make a sincere apology and let it be known that I’m learning as I go the older I get and becoming more knowledgeable on today’s regulations and laws,” said Coleman. “I currently am working to better myself for me and my family and I would just like to be able to progressively be positive on succeeding further.”
The court pronounced Coleman guilty of the category B felony and sentenced her to 12-32 months in prison with 23 days credit for time served. The prison sentence was suspended and Coleman was placed on probation for three years due to her low risk of reoffense.
She was ordered to not be a childcare provider or work in the childcare arena as part of the probation conditions.
Coleman was ordered to pay a $153 DNA collection and analysis fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $250 public defender fee.
Ashley Nicole Gonzalez, age 24, pleaded guilty to being under the influence of a controlled substance earlier this year, a category E felony in Nevada.
Her attorney, Public Defender Matthew Stermitz told the court that Gonzalez has had problems with narcotic use since she was 17 and that she needs to be put on a program and probation.
The potential sentence for the category E felony includes one to four years in prison, maximum $5,000 fine and in most cases, probation is mandatory.
Gonzalez told the court that she fees like drug court would be good for her because she needs help and previously never accepted the fact that she needed help or wanted to take advantage of services that were available.
“Jail was an eye opener for me because i wouldn’t be sober now and I just think drug court would be a good option for me,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was ordered to pay a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment fee, $60 forensic fee and $250 public defender fee.
The court ordered a 12-34 month prison sentence with 45 days credit for time served.
The prison sentence was suspended and she was ordered to 18 months of probation with the condition that she complete the Humboldt County Adult Drug Court Program and abstain from the use/purchase/possession/consumption of all drugs and controlled substances.
Paul Reynosa, age 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a category E felony in Nevada.
His attorney requested a deferral of judgment under Nevada Revised Statute 176.211, allowing him to complete a term of probation and be allowed to withdraw the guilty plea after all terms and conditions are complete.
The deferral request was granted and Reynosa was placed on 18 months of probation and ordered to enter into and successfully complete the adult drug court program, which will allow him to rescind his guilty plea and avoid a felony conviction if successful.
