Gardnerville woman gets up to five years in prison for credit card fraud

A Gardnerville woman with a lengthy criminal record told District Judge Michael Gibbons she was ready to change her life for the better.

"All my 30s were bad," said Joreen George. "I just turned 40. I'm a grandmother now and I don't want my granddaughter to say, 'Oh, my grandma is in jail; she's in prison.'"

George pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card and eluding an officer.

Gibbons sentenced her Monday to four years on the credit card charge and five years on the eluding charge, to be served concurrently. She must serve a minimum of 12 months in prison before she is eligible for parole.

"Unfortunately, you're starting the decade of your 40s in prison, but at least you will be sober for a year," Gibbons said.

"For 10 years, you've been committing crimes on a regular basis," Gibbons said. "The sentence has to get more severe every time you come back."

Gibbons commended George for repaying the credit card victim $1,500 and for her remorse.

"You analyzed the situation remarkably well," he said. "It's a question of carrying it out day by day."

n A 22-year-old Gardnerville man was sentenced to two years probation Monday after the man he's accused of attempting to run over with a car asked the judge for leniency.

Christopher Vigneau pleaded guilty to performance of an act or neglect of duty in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property.

He admitted trying to run over his girlfriend's father after a dispute at the home he was sharing with her and her mother.

The incident occurred in January.

The victim told District Judge Michael Gibbons that Vigneau had been considered a part of the family for five years and was engaged to his daughter. He said the couple had agreed to pre-marital counseling and that Vigneau was hoping to enlist in the military.

He asked that Vigneau not be sentenced to more jail time than the six months he's already served in Douglas County Jail.

As part of his probation, Vigneau is to continue to maintain his sobriety and attend anger management classes.

He must attend 12-step programs at least twice a week or attend formal out-patient treatment and complete 40 hours of community service.

Gibbons said if Vigneau were successful in joining the military, he would amend the probation.

n A South Lake Tahoe man was sentenced Monday to one year in Douglas County Jail and ordered to pay $5,508 restitution for attempted grand theft.

Herminio H. Arrellano, 33, admitted stealing a 1996 vehicle in April. He failed to appear for an earlier court appearance and has served 110 days in jail since his arrest on a bench warrant.

Lawyer Tod Young argued in favor of sentencing Arrellano for a gross misdemeanor instead of a felony which would have meant prison instead of jail.

"If you put him in prison on a felony, he'll get deported and the victim will never get paid," Young said.

District Judge Michael Gibbons ordered Arrellano to pay restitution at $300 a month after his release from custody if he is not deported.

n A 46-year-old Gardnerville man who said he was ready "to get back to the real world and do right" was sentenced Monday to three years probation for stealing his father's car.

Richard Lugone said he had been thinking clearly since he had been incarcerated.

"I've been clean and I have started to see the light," he said. "I have some health issues that need to be addressed."

District Judge Michael Gibbons suspended a one-year sentence in Douglas County Jail and ordered him to successfully complete drug court.

He also ordered Lugone to undergo out-patient substance abuse treatment.

Lugone said the vehicle was not damaged and that the charge stemmed from his failure to return the vehicle to his father at an agreed upon time.