A man accused of threatening Gardnerville bar patrons' lives with a machete is expected to be arraigned in Douglas County District Court this morning.
James A. Preston, 41, of Dayton was pulled over in Minden at midnight on Jan. 9 after allegedly making threats over the telephone to come to Gardnerville and take care of business, according to testimony in his March 5 preliminary hearing. A machete was found under the seat of his vehicle.
He was bound over on three of four felony aggravated stalking charges.
Preston's attorney, Kris Brown, argued that while her client doesn't deny elements of the incident, they do not amount to aggravated stalking.
"We have to have a course of conduct directed to one person and show a continuity of purpose," Brown said.
Prosecutor Laurie Trotter introduced evidence at the preliminary hearing that Preston's behavior began before the January incident, and that each of the victims had crossed Preston's path in one way or another.
Preston was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has been incarcerated in Douglas County Jail since Feb. 1.
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