Hesselgesser ordered to attend Drug Court

A Fallon man suspected with thefts from dozen vehicles earlier this year was ordered Tuesday in District Court to Drug Court.

Robert Blake Hesselgesser, 20, appeared for violating the conditions of his release when he tested positive twice for methamphetamine. He is charged with one count of possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance for the purpose of sale.

He will appear for Drug Court on May 28, but was remanded to custody in the Churchill County Jail until his orientation.

Churchill County Deputy District Attorney Michael Winn asked the court to revoke Hesselgesser’s release and sentence him. In addition, Winn said Hesselgesser admitted he was using meth from May 11-16.

Hesselgesser agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors stemming from 46 car burglaries from Jan. 1 through Feb. 19.

Winn said he was “cautiously optimistic” of the deal with Hesselgesser, but argued he does not deserve another chance.

Hesselgesser’s attorney, Steve Evenson, said he was surprised his client relapsed after completing a 30-day treatment program at the Vitality Center in Reno.

In other court news —

Sandra Lee Wood was sentenced Tuesday in District Court to 19-48 months in prison for one count of uttering a forged instrument.

Wood bilked a 94-year-old blind woman out of $6,030 by forging and cashing numerous checks. Winn said Wood cashed five checks and a codefendant, Joe Groves, who is serving a prison term for the crime, cashed seven.

Winn said Wood opened a checking account at Wells Fargo with a fraudulent check. In addition, Wood’s criminal history is spread throughout the country and includes one prior felony conviction (arson), and eight to nine misdemeanor convictions.

Four of the prior misdemeanors were for forgery, one for petit larceny and three for issuing bad checks.

Wood’s attorney, Dave Neidert, said his client was manipulated by Groves. In addition, the restitution payments would be delayed until her release from prison.

Derwin Begay pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence with a prior felony DUI.

He faces two to 15 years in prison and between a $2,000 and $5,000 fine. He was arrested Sept. 14, 2013, and his blood-alcohol level was .255, more than three times the legal limit. He will be sentenced July 29.

Wesley Carlin Scott pleaded no contest and was sentenced on one count of conspiracy to commit burglary.

According to Deputy DA Ben Newman, Scott stole $856 from a safe at the Big Horn Saloon in July 2013. Scott was an employee at the time of the crime.

He received a suspended jail sentence of 364 days, was placed on probation for up to three years and must pay a $500 fine and $856 in restitution.