A 36-year-old Gardnerville man was sentenced to six months in jail Wednesday after he violated his probation by drinking.

East Fork Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl told Billy Joe Hudson he would allow in-patient alcoholism treatment as part of the 180-day sentence.

EnEarl rejected a request from lawyer Tod Young that Hudson be reinstated to probation and allowed to seek treatment on his own.

"You've had ample opportunity to quit," EnEarl told Hudson. "The last time you drank to excess, you hurt two people. This time, you only hurt yourself."

Hudson said he drank two pints of vodka and took 180 pills in an effort to kill himself. He was treated at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center and Nevada Mental Health before being transferred to Douglas County Jail.

"I was depressed," he said. "I started drinking and I wanted to kill myself."

Hudson was arrested May 14 for violating the conditions of his alternative sentencing.

He had been sentenced in March to six months in jail for two counts of domestic battery.

-- A 30-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man received a suspended six-month sentence in Douglas County Jail after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to battery that constitutes domestic violence.

Santiago Dejesus Vargas originally was charged with stabbing a woman in the hand with a pocket knife.

His lawyer, Tod Young, said further investigation revealed the victim was cut when she tried to grab the knife which Vargas allegedly was using to cut up her clothes during a domestic argument.

She offered a statement in East Fork Justice Court on Wednesday that she wanted a no-contact order lifted against Vargas.

"I made a mistake," Vargas told Judge Jim EnEarl.

The couple agreed to attend counseling together.

"I don't want him to go to jail or lose his job," the victim said in the statement. "I know our relationship can benefit from counseling."

-- Criminal proceedings were delayed one week for a 47-year-old Reno man accused of driving an acquaintance to Carson Valley three times to sell heroin.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl told Stefan Julian Putnam he would provide a court-appointed attorney, but Putnam would have to reimburse the county $1,500.

That was after Putnam told the judge he couldn't afford to hire an attorney even though he signed over an $18,000 quitclaim deed to his parents.

"You're asking me to tell the people of Douglas County that you signed over $18,000-$20,000 and now they're going to pay for an attorney for you because you allegedly sold drugs in Douglas County," EnEarl said.

"I'll appoint one, but you're going to pay the bill," EnEarl said.

He appointed lawyer Derrick Lopez and set the next hearing for June 6.

Putnam was arrested May 24 at a northern Douglas County shopping center following a three-week investigation into heroin distribution by the sheriff's office Street Enforcement Team.

Putnam and Roland Roth, 46, of Reno, were arrested after allegedly selling 17.2 grams of heroin and a small amount of cocaine to undercover officers.

Putnam's 1999 Isuzu pickup was seized and may be forfeited because it was allegedly used to facilitate the drug transaction.

Putnam is in Douglas County Jail on $110,000 bail. He was charged with three counts of principal to sales of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, the computer technician admitted he was a heroin addict and drove Roth to Carson Valley on three occasions to sell heroin to undercover officers.

Putnam reportedly told investigators he agreed to drive Roth for $50 a trip. He said he was broke and needed the money.

Roth, 46, was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center for treatment of open wounds on his calves caused by what doctors said was heroin use.

-- The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported 10 contacts for domestic violence May 23-29.

There were seven verbal domestics, two arrests for domestic battery and one case closed pending investigation.

There were no juvenile arrests or witnesses to domestic battery.

The Family Support Council submitted one request to East Fork Justice Court for a temporary restraining order which was denied.

Connie Richardson, sheriff's office domestic violence prevention coordinator, said the average range for domestic violence contacts is 12-16 per week for this time frame.

The average range for children witnessing domestic violence is 9-11 per week with juvenile suspects at 0-2 per week.