Man gets jail, probation for locking kids in room

A Carson City father who pleaded no contest to keeping his young sons locked in their bedroom was sentenced to six months in jail and up to three years probation Tuesday.

Robert Williams, 48, told Judge Jim Wilson he'd suffered enough.

"I've lost my children, my marriage, my dignity," said Williams. "Please don't shut the door on my ability to get my children back. I've lost so much already, please help me get my children back."

Williams was jailed Oct. 3, 2009, after a Carson City deputy went to his home on a welfare check and found Williams' sons, ages 3 and 5, locked in a bedroom. One child had a large scab on his face and the other a black eye.

Williams' wife Linda Williams, 36, was also arrested and she pleaded guilty to the same charge as her now-estranged husband. She is set to be released from jail on Nov. 23. The couple are currently going through a divorce.

Tuesday's hearing was a continuation from last week when two Carson City deputies failed to appear after being subpoenaed by the defense.

Deputy Benjamin Veader testified that he never received the subpoena and Deputy Tara Collier told the court she was undergoing surgery on her finger and had given the defense advanced notice she would not be able to attend.

In sentencing Williams, Judge Wilson noted he was giving him the same sentence he handed down to Williams' wife for a charge of gross misdemeanor false imprisonment.

Wilson sentenced Williams to one year in jail, with six months suspended and up to three years probation. Williams must surrender to authorities to begin serving his sentence on Nov. 29.

Also before Wilson on Tuesday:

• Luis Albert Cervantes pleaded guilty to felony sell, transport, give or attempt to sell, transport or give a controlled substance. He will be sentenced Dec. 18.

• Margaret Murdock, 59, pleaded guilty to felony burglary. According court records, Murdock entered the Carson City branch of U.S. Bank and attempted to cash a $9,100 cashier's check. The tellers recognized her from a notice sent out by bank headquarters after police in Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, Calif., were looking for her for fraudulent cashier's checks there. Upon questioning by Carson City police, Murdock, who was wearing a gray wig and plaid jacket that matched the description in the notice, said she was driven to the bank by a man named Jay. In exchange for cashing the checks, Jay would pay for Murdock's hotel rooms and beer. She will be sentenced Dec. 21.

• Alex Solis, 28, was sentenced to 12 months in jail suspended with up to three years probation on a charge of gross misdemeanor possession of a switchblade. Solis was among half a dozen people arrested in August in connection with a gang shooting at Menlo Drive and Lompa Lane in which no one was hit.