Three individuals were recently given a chance to complete a term of probation in the Sixth Judicial District Court on felony and gross misdemeanor charges.
Joey Carl Baker, age 43, admitted to one count ex-felon in possession of a firearm (shotgun), a category B felony in Nevada that carries a maximum $5,000 fine and up to six years in prison.
Baker and his attorney, Humboldt County Public Defender Matthew Stermitz requested that Baker be placed on probation but be allowed to consume Marijuana as he carries a medical marijuana card for chronic back pain from previous injuries.
Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Montero highlighted an extensive criminal history that Baker carries, including several misdemeanor drug charges.
Montero said that the pre-sentencing investigation report submitted to the court indicates that Baker starting using marijuana at 16 years old, methamphetamine at 14 with regular use by the age of 18 and started using heroin every day while in his 30’s.
Montero shared concerns with allowing someone to continue to use a controlled substance with an extensive criminal history and self-declared opioid use addiction.
The court ordered that Baker be convicted of the category B felony and sentenced to 12-34 months in prison with 21 days credit for time served.
The prison sentence was suspended and Baker was placed on probation for 36 months with the condition that he abstain from the use/purchase/consumption/possession of controlled substances including alcohol and marijuana whatsoever and that he obtain a substance abuse evaluation at his own expense and enter into any recommended treatment program.
Baker was also ordered to pay a $3 DNA collection fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $500 public defender fee.
Marylou Bickett, age 37, was arrested on February 4, 2020, by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on felony and misdemeanor charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and driving with a revoked driver’s license.
Bickett failed to appear to an April 21 hearing in Sixth Judicial District Court and a warrant was issued. She was arrested on the warrant on June 16.
On July 14, Bickett pleaded no contest to one count gross misdemeanor conspiracy to possess a controlled substance in Sixth Judicial District Court.
The penalty for the gross misdemeanor is a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine with eligibility for probation.
Bickett stated that she had recently won a large jackpot at a local casino and would be able to pay the fines in full within a few days of the hearing.
Her attorney asked that she be allowed to pay a fine and go back to California where she is originally from and where her two children reside rather than be placed on probation and hope that the case is allowed to be transferred across state lines.
Bickett was pronounced guilty of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, a gross misdemeanor and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $1,460 in restitution, a $153 DNA collection and analysis fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $250 public defender fee.
She was ordered to 364 days in the county jail and the jail sentence was suspended and she was placed on three months of court-supervised probation after which time if she resides somewhere outside of Winnemucca she will be able to be released from court supervision.
Julia Martinez, age 29, was arrested on June 21, 2020, on felony and misdemeanor charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and operating an unregistered off-highway vehicle on public land with a $10,835 bail.
In an August arraignment hearing, Martinez pleaded no contest to one count felony E possession of a controlled substance which carries up to four years in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine with probation mandatory under most circumstances and the possibility for a diverted sentence.
A diversion application was submitted to the court prior to the sentencing hearing and at sentencing, Martinez told the court she had been dealing with substance abuse for quite some time since she was 13 and hadn’t had the chance to be fully engaged in her daughter’s life because of substances.
“I feel like this would benefit me in a major way, I am in a different place in my life to where I feel like I am engaged and ready to make the change,” said Martinez.
Montero ordered that the judgment be deferred and that she be placed on 18 months of formal probation and required to complete the Humboldt County Adult Drug Court Program.
If Martinez completes all conditions of her probation and drug court then she may withdraw her plea and avoid a felony conviction in the matter.
