Carson High student faces punishment in graffiti spree

District Judge Dave Gamble set disposition June 24 for a Carson City teenager in connection with a graffiti spree in Carson Valley that advocated white supremacy and violence to Hispanics.

At the conclusion of a two-hour fact finding hearing Tuesday, Gamble said there was enough evidence to indicate that Anthony Nicholson, 15, was involved with Matthew Martin, 18, in the vandalism that occurred in mid-March at several locations.

Martin admitted the vandalism, and was placed on formal probation June 3.

Nicholson denied the petition and the judge heard testimony Tuesday from Martin, Nicholson, deputies and several members of Nicholson's family.

Investigator Greg Rooney said he interviewed Nicholson at Carson High School and the teenager initially denied the allegation, but later admitted taking part in one incident.

Rooney denied Nicholson's allegation that he told the teenager he would be taken into custody unless he confessed.

On the stand, Martin took responsibility for most of the graffiti, but pointed out about eight sites he said Nicholson spray-painted.

"It was mainly my idea. I just broke up with my girlfriend and I was bored. I called Anthony's brother and he had to work, so Anthony and I did it," Martin said.

Nicholson testified that he was watching his nephew at his father's home in Gardnerville and did not leave.

Nicholson claimed several times that Rooney "cohersed" (coerced) him into confessing.

"He never told me I was free to leave. He said he was going to take me to detention. I admitted to the one (incident) so he would leave me alone," Nicholson said.

In finding enough evidence to hold Nicholson responsible for the offense, Gamble told the teenager it was the judge's responsibility "to get kids on the best path I can. Part of that is owning up to what you did."

Gamble said he didn't believe Nicholson's account of his interview with Rooney.

"Investigator Rooney has bigger cases to close than this one," Gamble said. "I know there are a few bad apples in every police force. I am not blind to that. I don't believe your description of what happened in the principal's office. You don't know the meaning of 'coerced.' I believe you admitted to part of what you did to deflect further trouble."

Swastikas, obscenities and crude drawings were discovered on the north wall of the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, the Old Gym Playhouse in front of Carson Valley Middle School, a shed behind One-way Autocare, facing Courthouse Alley, the Heritage Park pavilion floor, the Active 20-30 Clubhouse and a residence in the 1300 block of Toler Lane.

The same graffiti tag was found in Lampe Park and a residence in the 1400 block of Douglas Avenue. Three homes on Mica Drive in Indian Hills also were defaced.

Standard juvenile probation terms include 50 hours of community service, drug testing, one-year suspension of drivers' license, impulse control counseling, no possession of tobacco products, random search and seizure, no association with adults or juveniles on probation and parole or gang members and participation in all court-ordered probation programs.