Storey Co. sheriff's candidate arrested in 1992

A Storey County sheriff's candidate says a marijuana pipe left by an old roommate was responsible for his August 1992 misdemeanor drug paraphernalia conviction.

Stephen Bloyd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia in August 1992, using what is known as an "Alford plea."

"It means I recognize that the district attorney has enough evidence to convict," he said. "But it isn't an admission of guilt."

He said the arrest occurred in Dayton, where there had been a hot debate concerning the location of Santa Maria Days, a celebration organized by the fire department. He worked for the fire department at the time and said the accusations were politically motivated.

"The police came over with a search warrant," he said. "They found an old marijuana pipe in a dresser drawer. The dresser was in a storage room in the back and had been there for many years, left there by an old roommate."

Bloyd was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence suspended on the condition that there be no more drug-related incidents for a year. The sentence carried with it an $1,100 fine.

Bloyd's career began in 1974 when he was a firefighter with the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department. He became fire chief in1978, a position he held for five years.

Originally from the Fresno area, he is 49 and has lived in Silver City, Dayton and Virginia City for 31 years.