Kidnap charge dropped to attempted extortion in plea bargain

A 55-year-old Gardnerville man is set to plead to attempted extortion in exchange for dismissal of more serious charges in the alleged kidnapping of a 66-year-old man.

Attorney William Cole said his client, James Kent, waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in the plea agreement with the district attorney's office.

He was facing charges of first degree kidnapping, false imprisonment and elder abuse.

Kent is set to enter his plea Feb. 2 before District Judge Dave Gamble.

Terms of the plea agreement include a recommendation of probation and the return of his Kent's truck after the guilty plea is entered.

According to reports, deputies were dispatched to Library Lane at 11:34 a.m. Nov. 3 on a report of a "rolling" domestic.

Witnesses said two men were in a white Chevrolet truck and the younger man, identified as Kent, was allegedly punching and pushing the 66-year-old victim.

As deputies separated the two, Caroline Mattox, 48, reportedly arrived on the scene, and kicked the victim - her ex-husband - on his left leg as he sat on the curb before she was detained.

The victim said he and Mattox were legally married, but she has been in a relationship with Kent. He said Kent and Mattox believed he stole items from a storage unit he shared with his wife in Carson City.

Mattox is charged with battery that constitutes domestic violence and principal to false imprisonment.

On Wednesday, EnEarl agreed to recuse himself from hearing Mattox's case because she said she thought he was biased against her.

She complained about comments he made regarding a 2007 conviction of Mattox for possession of methamphetamine.

"Past problems with my ex-husband are all the problems he pushed me into," she said Wednesday. "It's drug-related. That looks bad on me. I'm clean. I'm not a druggie. I am a very responsible person with a big heart. I help a lot of people in this community. I think you look down on me."

Mattox said she was hurt and embarrassed by comments EnEarl made that were published in The Record-Courier.

"I just want a fair chance. I feel I'm the victim in this situation. I'm upset. My whole life was upset. It very much hurt my work. I am very embarrassed. I feel everyone is looking at me," she said.

EnEarl said he had no bias toward Mattox.

"I don't know that you're guilty of any wrong-doing. To save the appearance of any impropriety, I will recuse myself. I'm not making any admissions of bias. The truth of the matter is I am not," EnEarl said.

He set her next court appearance for Feb. 11 before Tahoe Township Justice Richard Glasson.