William Mason Farnsworth, age 19, was recently ordered to carry out two concurrent 14-48 month prison sentences after admitting to nine violations of his probation resulting in the revoking of a previously granted diversion program.
In August 2020, Farnsworth pleaded guilty to three felony charges; he was granted a deferral of judgment with probation for 36 months with the opportunity to avoid all three felonies if successfully completed.
After Farnsworth’s diversion program request was granted on all three felonies, he was ordered to complete the Humboldt County Adult Drug Court program as a condition of his 36-month probation term.
The penalty for possession of a stolen firearm, category B felony includes 1-10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine with probation eligibility.
The penalty for category C felony buying or receiving stolen goods charge includes on to five years in prison, a maximum $10,000 fine and probation eligibility.
The penalty for Farnsworth’s final felony, a category E possession of methamphetamine charge includes one to four years in prison with mandatory probation in Nevada.
In a recent court hearing, Farnsworth admitted to nine separate probation violations, including using controlled substances.
Humboldt County Public Defender Matthew Stermitz asked that Farnsworth be given another chance at probation with treatment.
Farnsworth did not make a request or statement to the judge during his opportunity to do so in his probation violation plea hearing.
On the category B felony charge, Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Montero ordered Farnsworth to serve 14-48 months in prison with 42 days credit for time served and pay a $250 public defender fee, $153 DNA collection & analysis fee and $25 administrative assessment.
On the category C felony charge, Farnsworth was ordered to serve 14-48 months in prison with 82 days credit for time served and pay a $250 public defender fee, $25 administrative assessment fee and $3 DNA collection fee, with the prison time to run concurrently with the first prison sentence.
“It’s unfortunate, we’re dealing with a 19-year old man who had these three felony cases come within rapid succession of one another and was given the opportunity to avoid all felonies, to be provided treatment in adult drug court,” said Montero. “And due to these violations and as a result of some of these facts he was removed from the drug court program and that’s why we’re here today.”
