Carson mom pleads to neglect; brother sentenced in shooting

A Carson City woman arrested in connection with a flier advertising the sale of marijuana pleaded guilty to drug and child endangerment charges Tuesday in Carson City District Court.

Rikki Jean Munoz, 22, entered guilty pleas to felony possession of heroin and gross misdemeanor child neglect and endangerment before District Judge Jim Wilson.

Munoz was among four people arrested Sept. 3 after police found fliers on Long Street advertising the sale of marijuana from Munoz's Fall Street apartment. When deputies arrived at the home, they allegedly found heroin paraphernalia, a small amount of heroin, used hypodermic needles on the floor within reach of Munoz's

2-year-old daughter and a jar of "clean" urine in the closet that deputies surmised the tenants used so a urinalysis test would not show drug use.

According to a plea agreement, Munoz could receive probation. If she successfully completes probation, the felony charge would be dismissed and she would plead to misdemeanor drug possession. The neglect charge will remain.

Munoz's two children are in foster care. She was released on her own recognizance and is expected to check into a rehab facility on Oct. 25. Munoz will be sentenced on Nov. 30.

Also before Wilson on Tuesday:

• Aaron Glenn Vanveckhoven, 51, was sentenced to up to five years probation for shooting his brother in the arm after the two spent the day drinking in April 2009.

Vanveckhoven pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor unlawful discharge of a firearm.

According to Vanveckhoven's attorney Marcie Flygare, Aaron Vanveckhoven and his brother, Keith Vanveckhoven, were drinking heavily throughout the day and had returned to Vanveckhoven's shop on Rand Avenue to sleep in a loft. According to court records, about 2:30 a.m. Vanveckhoven shot his sleeping brother in the arm, claiming it was an accident.

When police arrived Keith Vanveckhoven said the two were arguing about "stupid s---" prior to the shooting. But during the preliminary hearing, Keith Vanveckh-oven testified he was asleep and the two hadn't argued.

Flygare said the incident has caused a lasting rift between the brothers.

"This was a really bad accident," Aaron Vanveckhoven told Judge Wilson. "This has hurt my mom bad. If I could change it, I would, but I can't."

Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner said he was not opposed to probation, noting that the victim's blood alcohol content at the hospital was .24.

"We simply cannot rely on his testimony," said Gardner. "I don't believe we could ever prove there was any intent (on the defendant's part) to shoot his brother."

Aaron Vanveckhoven must also pay $7,200 in restitution.

• Gregory Snelson, 30, pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor theft for stealing his sister's ring Sept. 5 and pawning it to buy cigarettes. Snelson faces up to a year in jail when sentenced Nov. 30.

• Robert Eugene Miller, 66, pleaded guilty to second-offense burglary for breaking into Computer Corps and stealing laptops on Sept. 6. Since Miller has a 2001 conviction for burglary already on his record, he cannot receive probation and faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on Nov. 16.

• Henry Stanley Wojtowicz, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine. He was arrested April 17 after police allegedly found him in possession of more than 20 grams of meth. A status check is set for Jan. 4.