Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 38

MetroWatch A daily look at people, places and events making news in the Reno-Sparks area, including the most recently filed crime reports. 2C FRIDAY JULY 30, 1999 Ex-Washoe tribal police chief gets 1-year sentence TODAY'S FOLLOW-UP PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT HAVE MADE HEADLINES al law as a machine gun was taken by Ahdunko to his residence and later to Washington state. Washoe Police Chief Rick Norris has emphasized the rifle was never in the tribe's possession. He said there's no need for the law enforcement agency to have such a weapon. Ahdunko was fined 1 ,000 on the weapons complaint and $2,500 on the felony false statements complaint.

McKibben attached a number of conditions to the three-year parole period on the latter, including search of property at will, mandatory drug testing and no possession of firearms. Ahdunko must serve a year of supervised release, or parole, on the weapons count. He must also complete 100 hours of community service on each complaint. He apologized tor his actions and appealed to the judge for leniency, saying he's concerned about the welfare of his six children. "This all happened when I was going through a difficult time.

I allowed stress and depression to take me down," Ahdunko said in the Reno courtroom. He said his poor judgment ruined a 17-year law enforcement career. cover up his involvement in a March 1997 car accident by giving erroneous information to a BIA investigator. While heading the Washoe police department, Ahdunko was a center of controversy among reformers who have been pushing for changes. Opponents said he allowed a climate of police brutality and intimidation to prevail throughout areas of tribal jurisdiction.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Ahdunko last November and he pleaded not guilty in December. According to the indictment, Ahdunko reported to the General Services Administration that a government vehicle was being used on official business to post boundary signs when it became involved in an accident with a civilian vehicle owned by a tribal probation officer. Ahdunko was accused of ordering a tribal officer to fill out the accident report form before he signed it. By agreeing to the plea negotiation, Ahdunko confessed he was using the government vehicle for his own private use at his residence. The estimated damage to the vehicles was less than $2,000.

i SPRINGS ,5 1 Quartz 9th MS! noting the numerous letters of support for her client, also suggested the possibility of a halfway house incarceration for her client so he can work while being punished. "He has continued to meet his child support obligations but he hasn't had any income since June 7," Smith said. She said Ahdunko was terminated by the Makah Tribe in Washington state after the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs threatened to cut off federal funds to the tribe if it continued to employ her client in the wake of his confession. After being fired by the small Gardnerville-based Washoe tribe last year, Ahdunko landed a job with the Makah tribe as police chief. Smith said Makah officials have supported Ahdunko and have offered him a position as general manager.

"This would give him sufficient income to meet his child support obligations. The job won't be left open for a considerable period of time," Smith told the judge. In the plea-bargain deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office, prosecutors agreed to drop a second count of the false statements indictment accusing Ahdunko of trying to STEAD VALLEY GOLDEN VALLEY i vcmui v. Newport PANTHER Ahdunko also served in the military for nine years.

"My biggest fear is not being able to take care of my children," Ahdunko said in reference to the possibility of prison time. He said he makes child support payments to five children with an obligation 1,500 a month. But McKibben said the serious nature of the weapons possession demanded a prison term, noting the defendant already was helped under conditions of the plea-bargain agreement. McKibben, agreeing Ahdunko abused a position of trust, followed the recommendations of the U.S. Probation Department.

He said he will ask prison officials to try to find a correctional center as close as possible to Reno or to the Washington-Oregon area. Defense attorney Kristine Smith, lot, 3:10 p.m. injuries. traffic accident, no Thursday, July 29 Job Corps Center, 12:10 a.m. false fire alarm.

1 Inmate population Thursday morning: 60 boys, 17 girls. Recommended total maximum: 44. Bookings on Wednesday and Thursday morning: 7. Bookings included: Possession narcotics paraphernalia, curfew, 1 probation violation, violation of court order, 1. 2 Inmate population Thursday morning: 814.

Design capacity: 61 5. Additional in-house arrests, work programs, hospitals and other temporary programs: 533. Bookings on Wednesday: 47. Bookings included: Drugs, DUI, domestic battery, probation violation, failure to appear, criminal contempt, battery, burglary, fugitive, 1 abuseneglect of a child, 1 obstructing an officer, 1 trespassing, 1 failure to comply with order, 1 Washoe County Sheriffs Office: 91 1 E. Parr case reports and records, 8 a.m.

to to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; desk telephone, 328-3001 78, Monday, July 19 Golden Spike Drive, 1800 block, 4:35 p.m. petty theft. Wednesday, July 21 East Glendale Avenue, 1 00 block, 3:30 p.m. grand theft.

East Glendale Avenue, 1 300 block, 12:12 p.m. petty theft. Friday, July 23 Disc Drive, 1 300 block, 3:07 p.m. gas skip. Tuesday, July 27 Prater Way and Interstate 80, 5:43 p.m.

suspended driver's license, no registration. Vance and Rock, 4:54 p.m. assault with a deadly weapon, careless driving. Wednesday, July 28 Prater Way, 21 00 block, 1 0:48 a.m. drugs.

20th and A streets, 6:59 p.m. local warrants. 15th Street, 1100 block, 7 p.m. domestic battery. Sullivan Lane and Street, 6:59 p.m.

drugs. Prater Way and Howard Drive, 9:45 p.m. DUI. Victorian Avenue, 1500 block, 4:02 a.m. drugs.

Wednesday, July 28 Jot Travis Student Union parking IBS To tv i --XV; Ll" 1 OOVh Reno Gazette-Journal Today's Question: Did the San Francisco 49ers make the right decision in signing controversial running back Lawrence Phillips? Results as of 6 p.m. Thursday: 366 votes 144 yes, 39 percent 222 no, 60 percent Log onto www.RGJ.com and respond to this question through the Gazette-Journal Insta-Poll. Answers will register automatically and readers can view instant results of the poll. In addition, readers are encouraged to provide additional comments on the subject at hand, as well as other topics, at the RGJ.com Digital Sounding Board. A selection of those comments, signed by the authors, will be reprinted in the Gazette-Journal.

Story ideas can be phoned in at 324-0225, ext. 1490. Suggestions for additional discussion topics can be sent to the Online Editor through RGJ.com. In addition, the Gazette-Journal welcomes letters to the editor, which can be sent in several ways: Directly through www.rgj.com; e-mailed at via fax at 775-788-6458; or through traditional mail at P.O. Box 22000, Reno, NV 89520.

Letters should contain daytime phone numbers and addresses. Following are actions reported by courts involving people arrested on a charge of driving under the influence: Reno Justice Court Rebecca E. Gunderson, $300, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Thomas M. Ingram, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

Miguel Angel Mercado-Vilianue-va, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. RobertW.Thrailkill,30days jail, 100 hours community service, suspended; 10 days jail; alcohol-drug abuse program; Victim Impact Panel. Douglas A. Sims, $1 ,000, 30 days jail, suspended; two days jail; $500; DUI school; Victim Impact Panel. Timothy A.

Leard, $1 ,000, 90 days jail, suspended; two days jail; $500; DUI school; Victim Impact Panel. Julian C. Holden, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Reno Municipal Court Kerry A. Lowry, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

Jerod L. Heath, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Udrick O. Glenn, 90 days jail, suspended one year; DUI school; Victim Impact Panel. Kelli Ann McGuiness, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

Patrick W. Campbell, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. John C. Rittenhouse, $600, 96 hours community service, 26 week alcohol abuse program, Victim Impact Panel. Thomas M.

Brown, $600, 96 hours community service, Victim Impact Panel, 26 week alcohol abuse program. Charles R. Garbinski, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Jose Luis Ceja, $600, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Leanne Buck, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

Juan Ramon Alvarado-Cruz, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Gary R. Gorgon, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Trina M. Soper, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

Julio Salizar, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Jeffrey H. Hill, $500, two days jail, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Lawrence J. Satica, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel.

EnriqueTorres, 180 days jail, suspended; 100 hours community service; DUI school; Victim Impact Panel. Jesus I. Rodriguez-Valdivia, $600, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Antonio Beltran, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. Pamela F.

Moore, 180 days jail, suspended; $500; 100 hours community service; DUI school; Victim Impact Panel. Rene Raul Ruiz, $500, 96 hours community service, DUI school, Victim Impact Panel. IIUll By Tim Anderson RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Three months after he pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a fully-automatic rifle, former Washoe tribal police chief Lionel Ahdunko Thursday was sentenced to a year in federal prison. He was also sentenced to three years probation for making false statements in a police report about a vehicle accident. U.S.

District Court Judge Howard McKibben turned down a defense request for Ahdunko to be placed on home confinement with electronic monitoring in lieu of prison time. But a request for a 45-day period of freedom was granted, with Ahdunko set to voluntarily surrender to authorities by Sept. 15. In a plea-bargain deal in April, Ahdunko pleaded guilty to misde-meanortheft in connection with possession of an M-14 rifle prosecutors said belonged to the Washoe Tribal Police Department. Ahdunko, fired by the tribe last year, faced the possibility of a felony weapons complaint.

According to court documents, the firearm defined under feder Policy for hunters on private lands being considered ELKO (AP) Nevada Division of Wildlife chief Terry Craw-forth says the state should develop a policy regulating hunters on private lands. Crawforth made the suggestion earlier this week to a state Wildlife Commission subcommittee after hearing numerous complaints from ranchers in northeast Nevada. Nevada has no such current policy partly because 87 percent of its land is managed by the federal government, he said. But land owners have complained to wildlife commissioners for years about hunters who pass through their ranches to hunt on national forest land, especially in the Ruby Mountains, Crawforth said. Humboldt County rancher Irv Brown said when he bought the Paiute Meadows Ranch in the late 1940s it was a dream come true.

But in recent years he has had gasoline stolen, irrigation equipment damaged, corral gates torn and vehicles driving across seed ed helds. "When I posted my lands, they tore up the signs," he said. "They drive across my fence line waiting for a chance to shoot a deer in my fields." When he approaches hunters, Brown said their response is, "I've been coming here for 20 years, nobody's going to stop me now!" Brown said he has complained to the Humboldt County Sheriffs office, the Humboldt district attorney, Nevada Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management but only two hunters have been prosecuted for trespassing. "That's why I now carry a weapon for my protection," he said.

"My confrontations have occurred on private land. All they have to do is get off my land." Ruby Valley rancher Cliff Gardner said he believes hunters should have to pay to hunt on private land. "They camp at my water holes, and when they camp on my streams and creeks they litter. "People who want to use the land must pay for that privilege," he said. Wildlife Commission Chairman Bill Bradley said Brown's property is on the Paiute Creek-Soldiers Meadow Road and the Leonard Creek Road, both accesses to the Pine Forest Ranges in northern Humboldt County, which have abundant wildlife.

Bradley said the access subcommittee intends to investigate the situation at Brown's ranch. CALIFORNIA LOTTERY Daily 3 Thursday's picks: 3, 6, 1. Super Lotto Fantasy Five Thursday's picks: 4, 13,21, 25, 33. Wednesday's picks: 1 1 winner in Concord, $33 million. JACKPOTS ,7,13,21,29, 38.

Calif. Jackpot was Totem Pole $2,203,290 Quarters Deluxe $1,083,510 Super Megabuckg $10,731,967 Cool Million Quarters $834,794 Megabuckg $9,401,002 Jeopardy $257,982 Quartermania $1,049,648 Nevada Nickels $226,564 California Lottery information can be obtained in Nevada by calling (800) 723-4879; in California, (800) 225-6669. Carson hotels jampacked for event-filled weekend If 5 SUN I VALLEY Gazette-Journal apparent as early as Wednesday evening. "Sure it is good for the community," said Marie Etchemendy, motel manager of Mill House Inn Motel. "As long as you fill up, it's good.

The only bad thing is the traffic." Days Inn manager Joanna Taylor-Bloxham said she's been referring people to their sister motel, the Best Western in Minden, after the 61 rooms at the North Carson Street motel were reserved. She said some people are seeking rooms at Lake Tahoe. "Our policy is to try and call every motel to find someone a place to stay, but we're running out of people to call," she said. "We refer to Reno if there is nothingleft in town." She also tips off the manager of the Sizzler located next door when she has a lot of reservation so they can be prepared. "Historically, these next two and a half or three weeks are the busiest in the year," said Sizzler manager Jack Brower.

"We just make sure we have enough food available to fill the orders." Where to call about lodging: Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-Nevada-1 or locally at 687-7410. For information on the Softball tournament: call Carson City Sports Director Joel Dunn at 887-2536. For information about the swim meet: call Charles Keller at 883-2918. class of 1979 will hold its 20-year reunion in the early fall. The reunion committee is looking for class members.

Contact: (775) 945-3502, (775) 945-5623 or (775) 626-8631 McClatchy High School: The class of 1974 will hold its 25-year reunion Aug. 28. Contact: Debbie Staley, (916)689-4262. Reno High School: The class of 1949 is planning a 50-year reunion on Aug. 21.

Classmates, contact Elliott Wesley Gritton, 826-0780 or Joe Garcia, 747-2346. Staff photo CAR-AZYCLASSICS: The Silver Dollar Classic car show is one of several featured events going on this weekend in Carson City. St II i ml a 4 J- 4i ByJodyRice RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Nevada's capital is booked solid this weekend. The reason hotel rooms are scarce in Carson City include: a five-day, all-age Far Western Swimming Championship, a 42-team senior Softball tournament, the fifth annual popular Silver Dollar Car Classic and the usual summer tourists. "It's a happening weekend," said Steve Kastens, Carson City's Parks and Recreation director.

"If people can't find something to do this weekend, I don't know what to tell them." Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Candy Duncan said visitors seeking reservation are being referred to Lake Tahoe, Minden and Reno because nearly all of the city's 1 ,700 motel rooms and recreation vehicle spaces are booked. "Of course, there could always be cancellations and vacancies at properties not registered with us," she said. The Far Western Championships, which is drawing 800 swimmers plus their families, began Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the Carson City Aquatic Facility at Mills Park. "We've never been here before so it is a nice introduction to Carson City," said Cheryl Gremban, who traveled with her two sons from San Ramon, Calif, for the swim meet. "It's a great community and a nice facility.

You've also ordered a nice breeze for the day, we like that." out-of- Bishop Manogue: The class of 1989 will hold its 10-year reunion Aug. 20-21 Contact: Tony Guzman, 786-5822 or the Bishop Manogue Alumni Office, 329-3946. Carson High School: The class of 1969 will hold its 30-year reunion Aug. 14. Contact: Teresa Young Bachstadt, 882-4880 or e-mail oogie1969yahoo.com.

Churchill County High School: The class of 1979 is planning its 20-year reunion Aug. 6-8. Contact: Deedee Carter Pace, (775) 626-0900. town vintage car owners, participants and spectators are expected at the fifth annual Silver Dollar Car Classic events that began Wednesday and run through Sunday. The headquarters for the car show is just next door to the swim meet at the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park.

Various events are held all over town. Northeast of town at Centennial Park, 42 senior Softball teams from a northern California association will be competing Saturday morning and Sunday evening on the areas seven Softball fields. Each team has about 30 players, who also are expected to bring their family members, officials said. Members of the business community see the crowds as a boost for the local economy. Douglas High School: The class of 1989 is planning a 10-year reunion Aug.

6-8. Classmates should call Heather Smith-Broder-dorf, (775) 849-2293. Earl Wooster High School: The class of 1974 is planning a 25-year reunion Aug. 1 4. Classmates should call Kathe Fanelli, (775) 322-7709.

Eldorado High School: The class of 1979 will hold its 20-year reunion this coming fall. Contact: 746-4330. Duncan said it is great to be busy, but it is a shame all the events are packed into one weekend because it could leave a bad taste in some visitors mouths who are turned away. "I guess it could hurt because the swim meet is only here this year, but we've been trying to build up the Silver Dollar Car Classic for five years," said Duncan, who added it could be possible the swim meet could come back at a different time of the year. "I'm not overly concerned but a little concerned.

"We hope people who want to register for next year aren't afraid to because they don't know if they will have a place to stay. That's what happens with Hot August Nights in Reno." Motel and restaurants managers said the in flux of visitors became George Whittell High School: The class of 1974 will hold its 25-year reunion Aug. 7. Contact: 867-4677 or GecRadaol.com. Hug High School: The class of 1979 is planning a 20-year reunion, Aug.

27-28. Contact: Mireya Reyes, 335-5300 ext. 238. John F. Kennedy Senior High School: The class of 1 974 will hold its 25-year reunion Aug.

28 at the Sacramento Hilton Inn, Sacramento, Calif. Details: (916) 433-5206. Mineral County High School: The.