Subsequent felony DUI results in 2-5-year prison term

A California man was sentenced to the mandatory minimum of 2-5 years in prison after admitting to a subsequent felony charge of driving under the influence.

Rowland Anderson Yovonie Jr., 32, was arrested Nov. 28, 2020, after he was spotted driving in the center of the westbound lanes of Highway 50 at 10 mph under the speed limit.

He was previously convicted in Sacramento of felony DUI in 2014.

Attorney Karena Dunn asked District Judge Tom Gregory to sentence Yovonie to the minimum.

“He made a very bad decision and was driving on a mix of substances,” Dunn said. “He should not have been driving.”

Yovonie said he immediately entered treatment, even though he recognized that he was going to prison.

“I’ve taken multiple actions to fix myself,” he said.

In addition to his sentence, Yovonie received the mandatory fine of $2,000, plus $1,140 in supervision fees while he was out on bail. That amount will be taken from the $4,500 cash bail he posted. He spent three days in jail that will count toward his prison term.

In Nevada a subsequent felony DUI is punishable by 2-15 years in prison and is not eligible for any sort of diversion.

• A Minden nutrition store operator admitted to a felony count of possession of a controlled substance for sale faces up to four years in prison at his Sept. 27 sentencing.

Brodie Steven Priestly, 28, appeared in Douglas County District Court on Monday with attorney Karena Dunn.

• A former Genoa resident was granted a dishonorable discharge from his probation for possession of a controlled substance after his attorney said that he’ll continue to be supervised on another case.

Darren Thomas Lefever, 32, admitted to possession of cocaine last year and was sentenced to probation.

He admitted to several probation violations running from November of last year to his sentencing on another crime last week.

Lefever received a suspended sentence in Carson City last week.

Lefever had 450 days time served, which means he would have checked into prison and then checked back out again.

• A 30-year-old man who received probation on a charge of possession of a controlled substance back in 2016 was dishonorably discharged from probation on Monday.

Joshua John Bradley transferred his probation to Wisconsin shortly after his sentencing, but when his dad died, he was left homeless.

“Being homeless in Wisconsin in the winter is not a place you want to be,” Attorney Matthew Ence said. Bradley moved to California and built a life as a union carpenter.

Bradley said he’d been sober for more than three years.

• A Reno woman who wound up homeless living down by the river for a time also received a dishonorable discharge from probation.

Stephanie Lynn Collins, 43, relapsed a couple of times over the last three years. She originally admitted to possession of a controlled substance in June 2018.

Attorney Maria Pence said Collins suffered from an overdose while living along the Truckee River.

Prosecutor Erik Levin argued in favor of sending all three to prison, pointing out that probation would be meaningless if people could just stop reporting.

“We shouldn’t create a system where people can just not report for a period of time and it will result in a dishonorable discharge,” he said.

Gregory said it was clear that Collins was an addict and that the system had exhausted its efforts to help her.

“All of us want you to beat your addiction,” he said.

But Gregory pointed out that in all three cases, the defendants would spend a minimal time in prison before they are released.

Collins had 87 days time served.