Eluder won't go to trial before May

It will be around four months until a man arrested in a May 1 vehicle pursuit involving a red Audi will face a jury.

Fabian Eloy Campos, 39, is facing up to life in prison as a habitual felon in addition to charges involved in the pursuit.

He has invoked his right to a speedy trial, which during any other time would mean within 60 days, but during the coronavirus emergency will take longer, District Judge Tod Young said Tuesday.

Campos was arrested after driving the Audi reported stolen in California down Highway 395 and then onto Johnson Lane. Deputies were able to stop him using a pursuit intervention technique.

Attorney Brian Filter sought Campos’ release on his own recognizance or a lower bail in a motion.

Young ruled that given Campos’ lack of connection to Douglas County, his criminal record and the significant time he’s facing should he be convicted, that he wouldn’t modify the $100,000 bail.

“There is a real danger of him not appearing and he has a history of violent offenses,” the judge said.

Young said May 10 would be the earliest date he could conduct a jury trial, by which time he hoped enough residents will have been vaccinated against the virus.

“I’m not going to require anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated to appear as a juror,” he said. “This will be the first trial.”

He encouraged Filter and the prosecution to meet in a settlement conference to see if they can work out an agreement before a May 10 trial date.

Campos waived his preliminary hearing in East Fork Justice Court after negotiations resulted in a deal. However, when he heard what the potential sentence would be he withdrew from the agreement and entered a not guilty plea.

An April 20 hearing has been set for attorneys to submit motions in the case.

• A 20-year-old Gardnerville man faces up to six years in prison after he admitted to child abuse involving sexual abuse on Monday.

Brandon Henery Arellano is not eligible for probation unless a psychosexual evaluation finds that he is not likely to reoffend.

Arrellano will have to register as a sex offender.

He was on a drug deferral that was revoked on Monday and ordered to remain in custody until his Feb. 22 sentencing.

• A 20-year-old man who snuck through a window to have sex with a 15-year-old on house arrest received a suspended sentence on Tuesday.

Luis Angel Caldera received an underlying sentence of 280 days in jail on a charge of unlawful contact with a child.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said. “You will never see me in a court in a position like this again.”

• A Carson City woman had her drug deferral revoked and was ordered to serve a 12-30-month sentence.

Alibi Marie Smith, 22, admitted she’d travelled out of state, failed to appear in drug court and didn’t obtain a GED in violation of the terms of the deferral.

Smith was ordered to attend drug court in May 2018 after her February 2017 arrest. She admitted to a count of possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Smith was given credit for 224 days time served. She is still facing sentencing in a Carson City case where she is charged with possession of a controlled substance.

• A Gardnerville man, who admitted Monday to possession of a controlled substance will likely wind up in prison for a parole violation.

Kenton Luis Duffy, 61, has been in custody since Dec. 11 after was found with an open container and some methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 12-32 months in prison in March and was paroled in May.

A possession charge typically carries mandatory probation, but Duffy’s record could result in 1-4 years in prison when he’s sentenced Jan. 25.

• A woman who admitted to violating her probation was given 30 days in jail.

Cora Quin Martinez, 20, was convicted of a felony for assault with a deadly weapon on June 1.

She was taken into custody on Dec. 31. Martinez reportedly huffed dust-off.

“I’ve been using occasionally,” she said. “I need to get help. One of my friends just died from it.”

• A Gardnerville man was granted probation on Jan. 4 after he admitted to being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Shawn Eugene Conners was warned that if he so much as touches a firearm in the future he’s likely to face prison.

He was given a 16-40-month sentence that was suspended for 24 months.