Man sentenced to prison in attack on girlfriend

A Gardnerville man was sentenced to 1-4 years in Nevada State Prison for attempting to strangle the mother of his 15-month-old child.

Nyle Silva, 21, was sentenced after Judge Michael Gibbons heard from the victim in the Nov. 17 attack and saw photos of her neck.

Silva's 18-year-old former girlfriend said they'd both been drinking when Silva grabbed her by the neck to try and keep her from calling the sheriff's office.

Two weeks prior to the attack, on Oct. 30, Silva entered a Gardnerville restaurant as it was closing and got into a fight with the employees. He was apprehended by Romy the K-9 when he fled the scene. That case was originally reported as a strong-arm robbery, but prosecutor Tom Gregory said Monday that there appeared to be no intent on Silva's part to steal anything.

The victim told Gibbons that she has recovered from her injuries and that she would prefer Silva didn't go to prison.

"I don't want to be with him again," she said. "But I know I have to deal with him for the next 18 years."

Defense attorney Tod Young argued in favor of a treatment program, but photos showing bruises around the victim's neck convinced Gibbons that a prison sentence was in order.

"These photos are pretty horrific," Gibbons said. "Society needs to be protected from you."

Silva was ordered to pay $2,310 in restitution for the victim's medical bills.

He was given credit for 59 days time served.