CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that upheld the revocation of a local man’s probation.

Charlie Lin Sheppard, 58, was convicted of arson in June 2007 and placed on probation.  On Sept. 15, 2008 a probation revocation hearing was held in which it was alleged Sheppard violated the terms of his probation because he failed to report to P&P, failed to attend mental health counseling, and additionally was arrested on new charges.

Sheppard represented himself at the hearing and was assisted by Humboldt County Public Defender Matt Stermitz,  who stood by for consultation.  On October 27, 2008, Judge Richard Wagner, of the 6^th Judicial District Court, revoked Sheppard’s probation.  Sheppard was ordered to carry out the original sentence of 12-35 months in prison with 147 days credit for time served.

LAS VEGAS —  Three defendants accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the Victims of Crime Program were declared guilty this week at jury trial.

Tonya Walker was convicted of four (4) Felony counts of Theft; her husband, Prentice Lamar Walker, was convicted of one (1) count of Felony Theft, Aiding and Abetting; and her mother, Ernestine Hunter Walker, was convicted of one (1) count of Felony Theft, Aiding and Abetting.

Tonya Walker, who was employed by the Victims of Crime Program, created fake victim claims files for her codefendant family members from which they embezzled in excess of $50,000 from the VOC Program.   After creating the phony claim files, Walker submitted them for payment to the Nevada Victims of Crime Program. 

“The Victims of Crime Program is in place to assist crime victims in paying their medical and other related bills associated with the crime,” said Attorney General Masto.  “Stealing from this program is particularly reprehensible when the offender is a State employee whose job it is to assist victims recover from these crimes.”   

A jury trial in Department 17 concluded today with the jury finding all defendants guilty of all charges. 

CARSON CITY —Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today the U. S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the State of Nevada in McDaniel v. Troy Don Brown. 

“Troy Brown should not have had his conviction overturned by the federal courts,” said Attorney General Masto. “The Nevada Attorney General’s office is dedicated to assuring that every case will be tried in keeping with the letter of the law.  We are prepared to argue to the highest court of the land to keep this commitment.”

In the 1997 Elko County case, a jury convicted Troy Don Brown of two counts of sexual assault on a child under 14. Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 10 years. Brown subsequently filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, claiming insufficient evidence to convict, but the Nevada Supreme Court found the record evidence was sufficient to sustain Brown’s conviction.

LAS VEGAS —  Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Richard S. Haddad was sentenced to a maximum sentence of 48 months imprisonment with minimum parole eligibility of 18 months for his felony convictions resulting from the international parental abduction of a two year old child from Las Vegas to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

“Abductions of children pose innumerable dangers to those taken from their homes, as they are isolated from their families and familiar surroundings at a time when stability is so important to their development”, said Attorney General Cortez Masto.  “Missing children’s investigations always take immediate priority in police departments and law enforcement agencies actively work to locate missing children and reunite them with their left-behind parents.”