Man with numerous domestic battery convictions faces up to 15 years in prison

A Gardnerville Ranchos man faces up to 15 years in prison after he admitted Monday to domestic battery with a prior felony.

James Arlin Lucas, 49, appeared in Douglas County District Court where he entered a plea of guilty.

Lucas faces a minimum of two years in prison in connection with his March 14 arrest after he backhanded and pushed the victim.

He was on probation for a Oct. 27, 2016, conviction for felony spousal abuse charge out of Orange County, Calif., according to court documents. Court documents indicated he’d been arrested 13 times for spousal abuse.

He will be held without bail until his May 17 sentencing.

• A South Lake Tahoe man received a suspended 19-48-month prison sentence after admitting he possessed methamphetamine when he was arrested on Jan. 9, 2020.

Steven Gregory Hurd, 62, appeared in Douglas County District Court on Monday.

Hurd was given credit for 59 days time served.

• A Topaz Ranch Estates woman was granted diversion Monday for a felony instance of driving under the influence.

Angelina Chavez Quesada, 57, had a .287 blood alcohol content when she was arrested on Jan. 6. She had prior convictions for DUI in 2014 and 2017. In Nevada, a third DUI in seven years is punishable by 1-6 years in prison. Offenders can avoid the felony conviction and a mandatory prison sentence by participating in a 3-5-year diversion program. When completed the offender will admit to a misdemeanor DUI. However, any subsequent conviction would result in a 2-15-year prison term.

• A Carson City man had his probation reinstated on Monday after admitting he essentially absconded from supervision.

Lawrence Lavish Sr., 59, was sentenced Dec. 30, 2019, on a charge of possession of methamphetamine after he was arrested in September during a traffic stop on Kingsbury Grade.

Defense attorney Brian Filter said that while Lavish didn’t report, he didn’t change jobs either. He was arrested in El Dorado County on a warrant.

While he could have been sent to prison to serve a 12-32-month sentence, Lavish has a place to live.