Fallon doctor sentenced to community service

A Fallon doctor received community service Tuesday in District Court after pleading guilty to a weapons charge.

Dr. Gary Ridenour was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service by Tenth Judicial District Court Judge Tom Stockard. Ridenour said he was “very remorseful” for the incident.

Brandi Jensen, a special prosecutor from Fernley, said the community service was the best option for the gross misdemeanor charge. Ridenour pleaded guilty in May to one count of possession of tear gas, bombs or weapons.

Jensen said Churchill County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Ridenour’s home on a domestic issue and discovered the weapons. According to the criminal complaint, Ridenour had at least 11 weapons including an AK-47 assault rifle, two shotguns and numerous pistols and rifles.

He was convicted in federal court in 1994 for unlawful use of communications.

Jensen, meanwhile, told Stockard he had several options including a fine, jail time or converting the fine to community service. She said since there was no direct victim in the case, jail time was not necessary although Jensen said possible jail time would serve as a motivation to complete the community service.

Ridenour’s attorney, James Sloan, said his client would offer his medical services for free to Churchill County High School athletes who cannot afford to pay for required physicals to compete in athletics. The cost for physicals, according to Sloan, is about $100 per athlete.

Ridenour has one year to complete the 100 hours of community service or he could be sentenced up to one year in the Churchill County jail. Ridenour must report to Court Services with monthly updates recording his community service.

In other court news —

McKenzie Dupree Singer pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, Singer stole a 2011 Lincoln MKZ sedan on Nov. 24 from Everet Pierce. Churchill County Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills, however, said the theft “was more of a carjacking,” which occurred on Interstate 80.

Singer, according to Mills, stole a vehicle in California and was driving east on I-80 before rolling the vehicle. Pierce saw the accident and stopped to check on Singer, who then stole Pierce’s rental car, while his wife was just able to exit the sedan, Mills added.

Singer then rolled the Pierce’s vehicle in Winnemucca, attempted to steal another individual’s vehicle and was unsuccessful, and was arrested by authorities.

He faces one to 10 years in prison for the charge in Churchill County and is currently in prison for the charges associated with the rollover in Humboldt County.

Jefferson Ray Gibson pleaded not guilty to two drug charges and a driving under the influence count.

Gibson is suspected of possession and being under the influence of methamphetamine and DUI with a prior felony DUI.

According to the criminal complaint, Gibson was arrested March 1 on West Williams Avenue for possession, being under the influence of a controlled substance and DUI.

A trial was scheduled for Feb. 19-20, 2014, and if convicted, Gibson faces four to 23 years in prison.