Ranchos man in jail for harassing neighbors

Staff Reports

A Gardnerville Ranchos man was ordered to spend 180 days in Douglas County Jail after violating an order not to contact his neighbors.

Kevin Edwin Melby, 30, is in Douglas County Jail after he was recorded cursing at the 7-year-old girl next door.

Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl ordered that the three sentences Melby was facing for violating his probation would run concurrently. He is scheduled to be released from jail on Sept. 22.

Neighbor Vivian Michalik said she has been living in fear in her house since Melby moved in.

"I don't want to be there by myself," she said. "Why does he get to sleep in his own bed, when I'm afraid to be in mine? My daughter sleeps over at someone else's house."

Michalik said they first noticed Melby after the fence between the two homes blew down. After repairing the fence, Melby came outside and started knocking it down.

Michalik installed a security system that includes a video camera and recorder and on Monday, Melby started yelling at Michalik's daughter. Michalik locked her doors and turned on the system, which recorded Melby screaming.

Defense attorney Derrick Lopez said Melby claimed he was yelling to himself.

According to a June 4 letter in his court file, a Douglas County Mental Health representative said Melby would be a good candidate for an intake evaluation, but that it would take two to three months for him to get in.

Melby appears to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia, according to the letter, but was unwilling to aid in his own therapy.

The letter to EnEarl said Melby is on a waiting list for treatment.

Melby was on alternative sentencing in connection with three incidents that included walking into Cavalry Chapel on April 2 while classes were being conducted. He was shouting and the pastor had to ask him to leave. Rather than leaving, Melby started knocking on doors.