Two plead in child assaults, two others head to prison in car thefts

Two men pleaded in separate child sex cases and two other men who stole several Hondas in December were sent to prison Monday in Carson City District Court.

- Leonard Stossel, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of lewdness with a minor. A criminal complaint filed in Carson City Justice Court on March 6 alleges that between Aug. 8, 2007, and Sept. 15, 2007, Stossel fondled a 3-year-old girl, and had her perform a sex act on him.

He faces 10 years to life when sentenced June 16.

- Jose Sanchez, 39, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child under 14. According to the arrest report, Sanchez assaulted a 13-year-old relative. He allegedly confessed when questioned by police.

Sanchez faces 20 years to life when sentenced June 23.

- Luis Paniagua-Ponce, 20, a construction worker from Richmond, Calif., was sentenced to 18 to 54 months on two counts of burglary and two counts of grand larceny by Judge Todd Russell. Panaquia-Ponce and Hector Eduardo Charon, 27, a landscaper from San Pablo, Calif., were arrested in December in connection with the thefts of at least three Hondas, all of which were stolen from the high school parking lot. Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner said investigators also tied the duo to at least seven vehicle burglaries. Charon pleaded guilty to stolen property and Russell sentenced him to 12 to 30 months in prison. The two are also responsible for $3,855 in restitution.

In other court cases on Monday:

- Michael Shane Smith, 37, was sentenced to 14 to 48 months in prison for possession of stolen vehicle. On Dec. 7 Smith was pulled over and ticketed by police in a Toyota F.J. Cruiser, which he claimed belonged to his aunt. A few hours later, a man reported the vehicle stolen from in front of his home. The officer that had ticketed Smith remembered the vehicle and contacted Smith at his apartment with the vehicle parked outside. Smith already has six felony convictions.

- Robert Swindall, 39, pleaded guilty to larceny and faces one to five years in prison when sentenced June 16. On April 8, Swindall took $100 from a Carson City gas station after sliding a note demanding money to the clerk and apologizing for his actions. "I'm sorry, I need help," Swindall was quoted telling the clerk.

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