Woman sentenced for public sex act

A sex act resulted in a 90-day jail sentence Tuesday in District Court.

Donna Deroche received a suspended one-year sentence, however, she must serve 90 days in jail, obtain and follow through on a substance abuse evaluation and cannot patronize any bars or lounges for three years.

Derchoe pleaded guilty to one count of an indecent or obscene exposure, a gross misdemeanor, earlier this year after she was arrested for having sex on the porch of the Churchill Arts Center at Oats Park.

A scathing letter to the court from Deroche’s daughter painted a dark picture of the 48-year-old mother. Passages read by District Attorney Art Mallory outlined Deroche as an alcohol addict in need of punishment.

The letter depicted Deroche as a “super conwoman” and her transgressions always end with a slap on the wrist. Mallory, though, said Deroche’s daughter wrote the letter as an attempt to save Dercohe from travelling down a darker path.

According to the police report, Deroche was arrested with Anthony Sanchez, 48, on March 11 by sheriff’s deputies when parents and off-duty deputies attending a youth baseball practice witnessed the act. Sanchez, meanwhile, is awaiting trial.

Mallory, meanwhile, said an 8-year-old child at the practice saw the incident.

“We still have certain standards in Fallon,” he added.

Deroche’s attorney, Paul Drakulich, said his client is committed to a life of sobriety. Drakulich added his client needs a 12-step program and treatment to overcome her addiction to alcohol.

Deroche, meanwhile, said she is currently involved with a 12-step program, has a sponsor and is “working very, very hard.”

In other court news —

Tadziu Ewing was sentenced Tuesday to 35 to 156 months (13 years) in prison on one count of felony driving under the influence with a prior felony.

He fled to the Southwest and was arrested in Texas in 2011 on a felony failure to appear warrant. Ewing was arrested July 18, 2009, for DUI with a prior felony DUI and failed to appear in court on June 29 and July 6, 2010.

He was extradited to Fallon in December 2011 and remained in custody for 19 months until he could secure bond money. He was convicted by a jury in April.

During the sentencing hearing, Ewing’s attorney, Paul Drakulich, said his client wanted to file a motion to appoint subcounsel, so Ewing could join the defense. The request was denied by Judge Robert Estes.

Drakulich said his client plans to appeal the verdict, but Estes said Ewing could do so from prison. Ewing alleges the intoxalazyer was inaccurate and Drakulich said his client only had a “couple of drinks,” took a nap, then drove several hours after Ewing stopped drinking.

Churchill County Deputy District Attorney Michael Winn, meanwhile, said the motion was another stall tactic by Ewing, who has delayed the case on numerous occasions.

Winn listed Ewing’s criminal history, which dates back to 1984, and includes four DUI’s and convictions for a concealed weapon, spousal battery twice, obtaining money under false pretenses and possession of a controlled substance.

Ewing must also pay more than $3,000 in fines and extradition costs.

Jacob Kolwyck, 21, of Fallon, and James Vagts, 48, of Fernley appeared Thursday in Justice Court for their arraignment on drug charges.

Both faces felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony under the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of a controlled substance.

The two were arrested July 15 by the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and according to the police report, authorities discovered 4.91 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, glass pipe and a small propane torch.

In court, both men were denied a release on their own recognizance. Vagts may appear today at a bail hearing, while Kolwyck is scheduled for a status hearing next week.