Court News

The following cases were heard in the Tenth Judicial District Court before Judge Thomas Stockard.

Nicholas Alexander Beevers pleaded guilty to use of an emergency telephone number when no emergency existed. According to court testimony, he called 911 several times with nothing to report. The proceedings were suspended, and Beevers was placed on probation for three years and to attend mental health court.

The arraignment of Stephen Charles Cheek was continued one week while information on the charges is amended. He faces charges of abuse of an older person or vulnerable person.

Allen Wilfred Ambler pleaded not guilty to two charges of trafficking a controlled substance, as well as one of committing an unauthorized act related to the compounding or sale of a controlled substance and one of conspiracy to commit a violation of the controlled substances act. A jury trial has been scheduled for September.

James Berton Lague was sentenced to 30 to 112 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution, for charges of grand larceny. According to court testimony he was found to be stealing copper wire from a communications line owned by AT&T, leading to service outages.

Christian Leann Allen was sentenced to 180 days in prison and ordered to pay restitution for conspiracy to use a credit card fraudulently. The sentence was suspended and she was placed on probation for three years.

The case against Tamara J. Dunlap was closed after she successfully completed the DUI diversion program. She was originally charged with driving under the influence for the third or subsequent offense.

Kenneth Edward Long was placed on probation for three years for charges of failing to register as a convicted sex offender.

Travis Dane Starkweather pleaded guilty to attempting to commit unlawfully obtaining or using the personal identification of another to delay prosecution. According to court testimony he gave police a fake ID while attempting to avoid an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction. Sentencing was scheduled for August.

Corey Demont Bynum was sentenced to 12 to 30 months in prison for possession of a controlled substance. He received 89 days credit for time served.

Donald Brown Jr. was sentenced to 120 days in prison for battery of an officer or health care provider. The sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years.

Marie Anna Snyder pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. She was placed on probation for three years and ordered to apply for drug court programs.

Stephen Charles Cheek pleaded not guilty to one count of abuse of an older or vulnerable person causing substantial bodily or mental harm, and one count of battery of an elderly person 65 years or older. A jury trial was scheduled for July.

Glen Davis Ortega pleaded guilty to attempt to commit, ex-felon in possession of a firearm. He will receive sentencing in August.

A bench warrant was issued for Melissa Rae Banovich after she failed to appear for sentencing.

Daniel Lee Williams was sentenced to 19 to 48 months in prison for possession of a credit or debit card without consent. The sentence was suspended and Williams was placed on probation for 5 years and ordered to attend life skills or mental health programs.

Robert Willis Ortiz was sentenced to 12 to 48 months in prison for an attempt to commit grand larceny.

Shelly Maureen Decker pleaded guilty to separate charges of driving under the influence, a third or subsequent offense. Decker will be sentenced in August.

Jason Horn was sentenced for two separate counts of trafficking a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 60 to 180 months for the first with a consecutive sentence of 48 to 180 months for the second. He was given 364 days credit for time served.