Lee pleads not guilty to public sex act

Another racy act led to a not guilty plea Tuesday in District Court.

Like the couple discovered two years ago at the Churchill Arts Council, the most recent passionate public encounter lead to a pair of arrests.

Paul Lee Jr. faces two charges when authorities arrested him for allegedly being wrapped in an intimate pose with Maylynn Boots, a transient, at a park on D Street. According to court records, Lee had exposed his genitals while having sex with Boots on June 2.

On Tuesday, Lee, who lives in Reno, was late for his arraignment telling the court he had trouble finding money for gas. A no-bail bench warrant had been issued earlier in the day, but Judge Tom Stockard quashed it when Lee later appeared.

In addition, Lee is also suspected of failing to report to Washoe County’s pretrial service for testing. Those allegations, however, are being investigated.

Lee’s current case, meanwhile, has taking several turns since last week. He appeared in District Court and pleaded guilty with enough hesitation Stockard entered a not guilty plea and continued the case one week so Lee and his attorney, David Neidert, could further discuss the case.

Lee, though, said he wanted to fight the case, although he said he wasn’t sure if he could beat the charges.

As a result, the Churchill County District Attorney’s office filed an amended complaint adding another charge. Lee currently faces one count of indecent exposure and one count of gross lewdness, both gross misdemeanors.

Boots also faces the same charges and if convicted, faces up to 364 days in jail. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 10 in Justice Court.

If convicted, however, Lee would have to register as a sex offender.

During last week’s hearing, Stockard admonished Lee for his lackluster performance through Court Services in Churchill County. He failed to check in at least 12 times from Aug. 8-24.

Lee, though, said he was moving to Reno and was unclear whether to report to Churchill County or Washoe County after he was ordered to Court Services in Justice Court.

Anthony Sanchez, who was arrested in 2013 in connection with having sex at CAC, plead not guilty and was acquitted.

In other court news —

A Fallon woman opted for prison instead of drug treatment Tuesday in District Court.

Celeste Llamas was sentenced to one to three years for possession of a controlled substance. Her attorney, Charles Woodman, relayed to the court that his client felt prison was in her best interest as she battled drug addiction.

Woodman said Llamas was adamant that being in custody was her best option as she already violated conditions of Drug Court. In addition, Llamas requested to be held in the Churchill County Jail after the violation so she could avoid any pitfalls in her attempt at recovery.

Patricia Tascon faces a mandatory prison sentence after she plead guilty one count of trafficking in a controlled substance, 4-14 grams, and one count of burglary.

She faces two to 16 years in prison in total for both counts.

Tascon admitted she trafficked methamphetamine and also tried to steal a computer from Wal-Mart to supply her drug habit. She was arrested on May 22 and will be sentenced Nov. 17.

Roger Evans, 72, was found guilty by a jury Wednesday for one count of exploitation of the elderly, according to a press released from the DA’s office.

He was sentenced up to 20 years in prison and fined $25,000.

Evans visited the victim, aged 84, in a nursing home and had him execute a power of attorney listing Evans as the victim’s son-in-law. He used the power of attorney to withdraw $56,000 over a 10-day period.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before reaching a verdict.