Suspect in Indian Hills chase agrees to lesser gun charge

A week before trial was to start on possession of stolen property, Fidel Fuentes, 25, of Carson City, has agreed to plead guilty to a gross misdemeanor in connection with a March 12 incident in Indian Hills with Washoe Tribal Police.

District Judge Michael Gibbons continued the hearing to Aug. 13 after Fuentes failed to appear Monday to enter a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess a stolen firearm.

Fuentes faces up to one year in Douglas County Jail and a $1,000 fine.

Fuentes' lawyer, Derrick Lopez, said his client was released from Carson City Jail on Aug. 1 on a probation violation and came to his office to sign the plea agreement.

"I informed him that I would be late for court today (Monday), but I would be here," Lopez said. "I don't know why he's not here."

Lopez said it was possible that Fuentes had the wrong date, and Gibbons continued the hearing for a week rather than issue a bench warrant.

Fuentes was set for a four-day trial Aug. 14 after he pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of possession of stolen property, a firearm.

Fuentes was a passenger in a vehicle reportedly driven by Robert Michael Hernandez, 20, of Carson City, which rammed the tribal police cruiser.

Hernandez fled the scene and was arrested April 29 in Palm Springs, Calif., on several new charges and the Douglas County warrant. He is reportedly serving 16 months in prison in California.

Hernandez is the stepson of Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira.

Fuentes was arrested shortly after the early morning incident when deputies found him in a backyard in the neighborhood where the altercation took place.

The weapon, reported missing by a Carson City resident, was found on a cul-de-sac where the incident occurred. Deputies showed a video at a preliminary hearing from a Washoe Tribal officer's patrol car which shows an object being tossed out of Hernandez's car.

The prosecution alleged that Fuentes tossed out the gun and knew it was stolen.