Man to be sentenced today in cop shooting

A Carson City man will be sentenced today for shooting a deputy during a February search warrant.

Mark David Fiddler, 50, faces two to 10 years in prison when sentenced today on a charge of battery with a deadly weapon in the Feb. 1 shooting of Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Josh Stagliano in the wrist.

Fiddler was initially charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in May.

According to court records, on Feb. 1 officers served a search warrant about 3 a.m. on Fiddler's Fall Street home based on information that his roommate, Lillian Meyer, was selling methamphetamine from the residence.

Twenty minutes after witnessing someone pull up in Fiddler's truck and enter the home, members of the Carson City Sheriff's Special Enforcement Team, with support from patrol deputies including Stagliano, knocked on the door and announced who they were and that they had a warrant.

When no one came to the door, officers used a battering ram to gain entry.

According to Stagliano's testimony during a preliminary hearing, once officers got inside Meyer and another male found in the living room were ordered to the ground. When Stagliano, 27, went to secure a rear bedroom, Fiddler emerged from the darkness and fired a single .22-caliber rifle round, striking Stagliano in the wrist.

Fiddler claims he was asleep at the time police entered his home and he had no idea the intruder was an officer.

As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution and defense agreed to recommend a sentence of eight years in prison with minimum parole eligibility after three years.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.