Fallon woman sentenced for assault on officer

A Fallon woman will spend one year in county jail for an assault on a police officer.

Tenth Judicial District Court Judge Tom Stockard sentenced Tami Homer to 364 days in the Churchill County Jail for the assault charge and suspended the sentence for a felony count of unlawfully obtaining and using personal identifying information of another person.

She also faced 16-48 months in prison for the felony count; instead, Stockard placed her on probation not to exceed five years, and she will be required to have a substance abuse evaluation.

Both sentences will run concurrently.

After he pronounced sentence, Stockard then ordered Homer remanded to the custody of Churchill County sheriff deputies.

Homer, 46, used the ID of her mother, Lani Peel, during a traffic stop on Oct. 11, 2014,, according to court records. An investigation into the citation revealed she used an alternate name, and a bench warrant was issued.

An officer of the North Central Narcotics Task Force pulled Homer over on May 28. Court records stated the officer informed Homer she was under arrest, and he attempted to retrieve the keys out of the ignition.

Homer, according to the criminal complaint, then drove off with the officer hanging out of the window as she reached speeds in excess of 25 mph.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills said Homer tends to blame everyone except for herself and also tried to manipulate the court. Mills, though, left his harshest words for her assault on the officer.

“It’s been open season on officers this year,” he said. “This is a serious event. The officer could have been hurt by a 46-year-old woman who knows better and was fleeing.”

Homer said she made a stupid choice as she apologized to the court and officer.

“It definitely was the worst day of my life,” she added. “You (the officer) were so nice … I panicked and took off.”

Her attorney, public defender Jacob Sommer, said Homer’s actions were no indicative of wanting to hurt the officer.

“What she did was inexcusable, out of character,” Sommer said.

Sommer asked the court that Homer receive probation for the two counts.

Lani Peel spoke on behalf of her daughter and said the choices her daughter made are not acceptable.

Stockard, though, had reprimanded Homer in August for taping a 13-page letter on his vehicle. The letter asked him to alter the terms of house arrest for her. At the time, Homer was on house arrest and only allowed to leave her residence to submit to alcohol testing with Court Services and attend church on Sundays.

Stockard said he did not read the letter, but Sommer had knowledge of the contents but not the actions of the letter being taped to the judge’s vehicle.

In court, Stockard reprimanded Homer for invading his personal space, especially his home, to request altering terms of the release.

Mills said Homer had a previous run-in with the law and problems with drugs, beginning with marijuana in high school and escalating to cocaine and then methamphetamine.

Homer, a former Churchill County High School softball coach, served a five-month jail and six-month prison sentence in 2009 after she was convicted of child endangerment and supplying alcohol to minors at a party in January 2008 where an alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl occurred.

In other court proceedings:

Candice Austin was sentenced to 19-48 months in prison for battery causing substantial bodily harm. She was ordered to pay restitution of $34,000. This is concurrent to another case of possession of controlled substance and not completing the drug court program.

Henry Andrews was sentenced to convicted sex offender failure to change address. He was sentenced 12-32 months, but the sentence was suspended with probation not to exceed three years. Andrews must properly register before release and check-in every 30 days to update registration.

A suspended sentence was given to Tyler Reese Nikonowicz, who pleaded guilty to battery while in state custody.

Shaleah S. Cook pleaded guilty to a count of being under the influence of a controlled substance and abusing a child. The 19-48-month sentence was suspended for count one, but she must serve 364 days in county jail for the second count. Both sentences run concurrently.

Taylor Renea Janiak pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. The penalty is one to five years in prison with a fine not to exceed $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December.

Kalen Tam A Nau Jim pleaded guilty to a county of battery, third offense. He faces one to five years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December.

Patricia Irene Steep returns to court in December for sentencing on failure to appear in court.

Eric Malcom Kelly Jr. pleaded guilty to being in possession of a vehicle that was reported stolen. He faces one to five years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December.

Kelly Ann Conway pleaded guilty to petit larceny. Conway previously had two similar charges. She faces one to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December.

William Ronald Guerrero pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and caused injury to another person. He faces two to 20 years in prison and a fine between $2,000-$5,000.

Former LVN court reporter Steve Puterski assisted with this article.