A Carson City man who admitted hitting a pedestrian with his vehicle during a dispute on Saliman Road last September received probation this week.
Marques Giron, 25, could have been sent to prison for the Sept. 1, 2008 incident that left Rodney Ricks, 28, with deafness in one ear and substantial injuries to his head and shoulder.
But instead, Carson City District Court Judge Todd Russell gave the new father of a 4-week-old son a suspended sentence of 16 to 60 months in prison, up to five years probation, 48 days in jail to be served weekends and 80 hours of community service. Giron also must pay $35,000 in restitution.
According to police reports, Ricks was walking north on the east side of Saliman Road when Giron's passenger David Sanchez began yelling at Ricks. In response, Ricks screamed profanities at the truck, the report states. The truck, driven by Giron, then allegedly stopped and drove in reverse at Ricks.
After Ricks jumped out of the way, he confronted Giron in the driver's seat and the two exchanged punches.
Then Giron sped off, causing Ricks to be seriously injured. He was flown from the scene to Renown Regional Medical Center where he underwent brain surgery.
Giron fled the scene and was located hours later intoxicated at his Airport Road apartment after attempting to arrange a hiding place for his pickup truck.
Turning to face Ricks' mother in the courthouse Monday morning, a tearful Giron said he takes responsibility for what happened.
"I'd like to apologize to the Ricks family. I'm truly sorry," he said.
"You should be," said Leslie Ricks.
Giron's mother and father testified that the incident was unlike their son, who they described as loving, gentle and kind.
"The three minutes that it took for this to happen does not define who Marques is," his mother, Lana Rauch, testified. "He made a terrible decision that day, but that's not who Marques is."
Leslie Ricks was of a different opinion.
"He was that person that day," she said, fighting tears and anger. "This boy left my son in the road on Saliman and drove away. He was that person that day."
Rodney Ricks and his wife have moved to Idaho, said his mother.
District Attorney Neil Rombardo had asked that Giron be sent to prison
"He left Mr. Ricks in the street for dead," said Rombardo. "In this case a man who was innocently walking down the street (had) his life changed forever."
Judge Russell made few comments during sentencing except to question a report that Giron and his passenger were laughing as they drove away from the scene.
Giron said that he couldn't recall laughing and explained that he had no idea if he'd run over Ricks.
"This is not an easy case," said Russell in handing down the sentence for a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. "I'm primarily doing this (so as) not to destroy two lives."