Alcohol violation earns prison term for woman

A 44-year-old Carson City woman who was reportedly drinking 3 to 4 pints of vodka a day in violation of her probation was sent to prison Tuesday.

"Three previous times I told you that you can't drink," District Judge Dave Gamble told Jennifer Taylor-Blocchi. "Three previous times you continued to drink almost to the point of killing yourself."

He told Taylor-Blocchi - on probation for a 2003 incident in which she rammed a Douglas County sheriff's cruiser - she needed to learn there were consequences.

She has had several parole violations for drinking. In January 2004, she was arrested at her residence with a .455 blood-alcohol content, a nearly fatal level.

In addition to the drinking, Taylor-Blocchi was behind on fee payments and more than $3,000 she owes the county for damage to the cruiser.

Gamble said he would rather not take up a bed at the women's prison for an alcohol-related offense, but he had no choice.

"The only thing I haven't tried is punishment," Gamble said. "I've been pondering what other choice I have. Every time I see her, she has a blood-alcohol content from near-death to .255."

The legal limit for driving in Nevada is .08.

In the most recent incident March 14, Taylor-Blocchi admitted she had been drinking and packed all her belongings in her car because she had no place to live. She said she climbed into the car to sleep.

"When I lost my job, things started to snowball," she said.

She asked Gamble for another chance.

"I have two children that mean a lot to me," she said. "I feel I could do it again. I am pretty disgusted with myself. I was trying to find Jesus Christ which I've found today."

Probation officer Jennifer Stewart said Taylor-Blocchi told her for the past month, she had been drinking 3-4 pints of vodka a day and was having trouble finding a job."

-- A 19-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was cited for writing graffiti in the restroom at the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center on Wednesday while he was waiting for a court appearance on a trespassing charge.

The graffiti "FTF" was discovered after Rurian Garcia-Ayala and a co-defendant were seen leaving the restroom prior to their appearance in East Fork Justice Court.

"I don't know if you did this, but if you did, that's got to be the stupidest decision ever," said East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl after he was notified of the graffiti.

"It's the stupidest decision I ever made in my life," Garcia-Ayala said.

The defendant was reluctant to tell EnEarl what "FTF" meant.

"I don't want to disrespect the court," he said.

He admitted the initials stood for "F--- the Feds."

"It's just a sticker I saw awhile back," Garcia-Ayala said.

"Are you mad at the feds?" EnEarl asked.

"Not anymore," Garcia-Ayala said.

EnEarl continued sentencing on the trespassing charge and the $500 citation until April 25.

"I really don't think I belong in this county," Garcia-Ayala said. "I want to get this paid off and I think I need to think about the consequences before I do something. I made a mistake. I'm the type of person who learns from it right away."

Garcia-Ayala returned to court to say that he cleaned up the graffiti with a grey marker.

"I'm not as slick as I thought I was," he said.

-- Sentencing was deferred for one year for a 78-year-old Bluerock Road resident cited for too many dogs.

Marie Homer said she only had three dogs - a poodle, a Rottweiler and a Maltese - after she had been contacted 10 times by Douglas County Animal Control for noise complaints.

"You're 78 years old and you've never been convicted of anything," Judge Jim EnEarl said. "I'm willing to defer sentencing for a year if there aren't any more violations."

Homer said there wouldn't be any more complaints.

"I know who turned me in and why," she said.

"You can't go assassinate them," EnEarl said.

Homer said she meant that she would be able to work things out with the neighbors.

Homer said the problems began when her daughter came to take care of her after surgery, bringing two dogs which barked. She since has given away a Dalmatian and the rest of the dogs have quieted down.

Homer also was ordered to make sure the dogs were up-to-date on vaccinations and licensing.