Calif. man receives 10 years for iPad theft

A 27-year-old California man with five prior felonies was sentenced Tuesday in District Court up to 10 years in prison for stealing iPad’s from Walmart.

Dominick Davon Boozer of Gardena pleaded guilty to burglary received three to 10 years for stealing $9,242 worth of iPad’s from the Fallon store in July.

Churchill County Deputy District Attorney Michael Winn said Boozer’s criminal history stems nearly a decade and includes five prior felony and six misdemeanor convictions.

As for the burglary, Winn said it was a “brilliant and smooth” effort between Boozer and codefendant Aaron Terril Jones. Boozer and Jones entered the store around 5 a.m., broke into the display case and rapidly filled a shopping cart with the items.

Jones left the store to retrieve their car, while Boozer pushed the items out to the vehicle. Winn said the two made a getaway, but an intense investigation by Walmart eventually netted an arrest.

Jones is currently incarcerated in Colorado.

The motivation for the crime, though, was a mystery to Winn. Despite the confusing reasoning for the theft, Winn argued for the maximum sentence of four to 10 years due to Boozer’s history.

Boozer’s attorney, Jacob Sommer, said his client has made significant strides toward redemption. Sommer and Boozer said he has changed his ways, wants to become a better person and dedicated family man. Boozer has a young child in California.

In other court news —

Erwin Espinoza pleaded guilty to one count of battery with a deadly weapon.

Espinoza stabbed Andres Galeno multiple times on Oct. 6 at a residence on Wildes Road. Churchill County Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills said the assault took place after an argument between Espinoza and Galeno, who was dating Espinoza’s sister.

Mills said Espinoza fled the scene and when approached by authorities, gave a fake name and social security number.

Espinoza’s attorney, Paul Drakulich, said his client has no criminal history, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and asked for a release on Espinoza’s own recognizance. Judge Tom Stockard, though, denied the request and held Espinoza on $30,000 bond.

Espinoza faces two to 10 years in prison with a $10,000 fine. He will be sentenced Dec. 3.

Eldon Richard Valdez changed his plea to guilty on one count of driving under the influence with a prior felony conviction.

The charge carries a sentence of two to 15 years in prison. According to the DA’s office, Valdez was arrested with a blood-alcohol level of .319, nearly four times the legal limit.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3, although that date is expected to be rescheduled so Valdez can complete an in-patient treatment program.

Russell Adam Hill was sentenced to 12 to 32 months for driving under the influence, a third or subsquent offense.

He has two prior felony convictions and was arrested for driving with marijuana, Xanax and alcohol in his system.