DeSelms pleads guilty to 3 counts

A Fallon man arrested in a bust by local officers and the Carson City Sheriff SWAT team pleaded guilty Tuesday in District Court to three felonies.

Charles DeSelms, 47, entered the pleas to one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance (4-14 grams), offer, attempt or commission of unauthorized act relating to a controlled substance and failure to stop on signal of a peace officer.

DeSelms’ attorney, John Oakes, made clear his client must serve at least one to six years for the trafficking count. The other two charges, however, are probatable and each carries a sentence of one to six years.

Oakes asked Judge Tom Stockard to release his client on his own recognizance. Oakes said DeSelms is a changed man since he’s been locked up in the Churchill County Jail and off methamphetamine. Oakes said his client was willing to submit to daily drug and alcohol testing with Court Services.

Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory countered Oakes’ claims and said DeSelms was a threat to the community. Mallory said DeSelms was a source of a significant amount of meth and fled authorities in June, leaving one officer injured.

Mallory said if DeSelms was released, there would be no reason for him to return for sentencing. Stockard, though, did not release DeSelms, but lowered his bond to $65,000.

DeSelms was arrested in July after two months on the run from the North Central Narcotics Task Force. The task force conducted a four-month investigation, which produced numerous hand-to-hand controlled buys with authorities.

The task force attempted to serve an arrested warrant in May, but missed DeSelms at his residence by about 30 minutes. A month later, the task force tracked DeSelms to a residence in the county, but he was aided in his escape, which caused one of the taks force members to crash a vehicle.

DeSelms, along with two others, were busted by the task force and SWAT team in July during a late-night raid. He will be sentenced Nov. 26 and could serve up to 18 years in prison for all three counts.

In other court news —

Leonard Orin George pleaded guilty Tuesday in District Court to two felony charges.

George faces two to 11 years for battery causing substantial bodily harm and coercion.

According to the criminal complaint, George flew into a rage Sept. 12 and forced Faleesha Perry into a car and hit her in the head and body. According to Churchill County Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills, George also slammed Perry’s head into the dashboard, which chipped her tooth.

In court, George said he had anger management issues his violence also caused a swollen eye and bruising. George will be sentenced Jan. 7, 2014.