247 Bailbonds

Category: Events

  • When Bond Agents Come Calling, Probationers Get Creative

    When Bond Agents Come Calling, Probationers Get Creative

    Criminals, or at least those accused, don’t always want to do the right thing. When bail bond agents try to approach them, they often take flight.

    The means of escape are unusual. Often on foot, crooks have been known to jump from windows, flee on bicycles and walk away from jail.

    None worked. All behind bars. And here are the latest reports.

    Travis Blanche

    Blanche, 27, jumped from his 8th-floor window when bail bond agents went to his apartment looking for him.

    The agents rang his doorbell, his wife answered and Blanche jumped. When the agents asked for Blanche, his wife responded, “He just left.” When asked how did he leave, she pointed to the eighth-floor window.

    Blanche hit the awning covering the building’s front door, bounced and landed on the concrete.

    The agents rushed down 8 flights, calling 911 on their way. Blanche was taken to the Regions hospital and his injuries treated. Even though it sounds like a scene from the movies, Blanche wasn’t  the only person to pull such a stunt.

    In May 2018, a 35-year-old man from Utah tried to escape from a second-floor courtroom by jumping from a balcony. Blanche was luckier. The Utah high jumper ended up with broken legs, a shattered pelvis and a fractured skull.

    Amber Gonzalez

    Although she didn’t escape from bond agents, Gonzales, 30, managed to beat them outside.

    Arrested and charged with theft, Gonzales was able to slip out of her handcuffs and make her way to freedom just before bail was to be set.

    After a little over an hour of freedom, during which she picked up a cool $80 for ‘servicing’ a client, Gonzales found her way back to police custody on a separate prostitution charge. She now faces a felony charge of escape as well as several misdemeanor counts of theft, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

    It all began when Gonzales was arrested for stealing a cellphone from a housekeeping cart at the Baymont Inn on September 14.

    After she was arrested, local law enforcement took her to the police station where she was told she would need to post bail for an earlier arrest or else she would go directly to jail.

    Placed in a holding area, Gonzales was handcuffed to the wall and left alone. Stressed about possibly going to jail and not seeing her kids, Gonzales slipped out of her handcuffs and found keys to the holding room door. She escaped and took the keys with her.

    Law enforcement later caught and arrested Gonzales and was immediately booked. If convicted of the charges, she is looking at six years behind bars and a $10,000 fine.

    Leaving On a Bicycle

    This 41-year-old man didn’t leave on a jet plane, but instead he took flight on a bicycle. A probation and parole officer reported she was trying to contact the man who was on probation. She sheepishly told her superiors he got away on, wait for it, a bicycle.

    When the probation officer called for backup, officers found the guy on his bike, but the man ignored order to stop. The man continued to ride, refusing to comply with the demands of law enforcement and was tased.

    The Takeaway

    If each of these criminals had just stayed and did the right thing, they would each be free now. Instead, they have piled on charges on top of charges and some are looking at years behind bars instead of months.

  • Nevada’s Revised Weapon Bail Bonds

    Nevada’s Revised Weapon Bail Bonds

    Felony Weapon Bail Bonds

    Nevada’s bail schedule lists the precise amount of bail for each offense. Facing a felony weapons charges means the bond will be higher. Weapon bail bonds aren’t different from other types of bail bonds regarding the process, but if a felony weapons charge is involved bail may range from $25,000 up. Some examples from the 2017 Nevada County Felony Bail Schedule are:

    • 245(a)(1)(2) Assault with a Deadly Weapon or Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury 25,000
    • 245(a)(3) Assault with a Machine Gun 75,000 245(b) Assault with Semi-Automatic Weapon 50,000
    • 245(c) Assault with Deadly Weapon – Peace Officer 50,000
    • 245(d)(1)(2)(3)Assault with Firearms – Peace Officer 50,000
    • 245.5 Assaults on School Employees – Likely GBI 25,000
    • 246 Shooting at Inhabited Building or Vehicle 50,000

    Misdemeanor Weapon Bail Bonds

    Despite having the proper license for a weapon, there are multiple laws governing gun ownership. In Nevada, a person must obey laws concerning possessing and selling weapons.

    Providing false information on a concealed weapon permit is a misdemeanor as is selling weapons to prohibited persons. In 2017, Nevada changed the bail schedule to reflect other misdemeanor charges. These include:

    17500 Possession of a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Assault $5,000
    17510 Possession of a Deadly Weapon or Firearm While Picketing $5,000
    18735 Selling, Transporting or Possessing Fixed Ammunition Greater Than .60 Caliber $5,000
    19405 Selling a Less Lethal Weapon to a Minor $2,500
    19910 Selling BB Device to a Minor OR**
    19915 Furnishing BB Device to a Minor w/o Parental Permission OR**
    20150 Altering Imitation Firearm $1,000 20810 Commercially Selling or Possessing for Sale an Undetectable Knife OR**
    21510 Possession of a Switchblade Knife $1,000
    21710 Possession of Composite or Wooden Knuckles $1,000 2017
    22610 Illegal Possession of a Stun Gun $1,000
    22900 Illegal Possession of Tear Gas $1,000 23920 Possession of a Firearm With Altered or Obliterated Identification Mark or Number $5,000 25100 Criminal Storage of a Loaded Firearm – 2nd Degree $5,000
    25200 Criminal Storage of a Concealable Firearm or a Firearm Brought to School $5,000
    25400 Concealed Firearm – Misdemeanor Violation $5,000 25850 Loaded Firearm on Person or in Vehicle $5,000
    26100(a) Driver or Owner of Vehicle Permitting Another to Possess Loaded Firearm in Vehicle $2,500
    26180 False Information on CCW Application $2,500
    26500 Illegal Sale or Transfer of Firearm Without a License $1,000 28250 False Information on Application to Purchase Firearm $2,500
    29825(b) Possession or Ownership of Firearm by Prohibited Person Due to Existing Restraining or Protective Order $10,000 30306 Knowingly Supply, Sell or Give Ammunition to Prohibited Person $1,500
    30310 Possession of Ammunition on School Grounds $5,000 31615 Sale, Purchase or Transfer of a Handgun Without a Valid Safety Certificate $2,500 32000 Selling, Giving or Lending Unsafe Handgun $2,500

  • Avoid Jail Time While Harvesting Piñón Nuts

    Avoid Jail Time While Harvesting Piñón Nuts

    Each year, after Labor Day, tourists go home, and Las Vegas locals start to settle in. Often, they take a last minute trip to Lake Tahoe and maybe stop at the National Forest along the way.

    Be careful. Harvesting pine nuts can get a person in jail. There’s a right way and wrong way to do it.

    What Are Pine Nuts?

    Pi??n, properly pronounced “pin-yon,” are common, lesser known segments of the pine genus which also produce tasty seeds or ‘nuts.’ Of 100 known varieties of genuine pines, just a handful produce nuts with a pleasing flavor.

    Pine nut types from New Mexico are called Pinon by law and come individually from “pinus edulis.” The taste is different from Nevada and is hard to harvest, resulting in a higher cost. Two-needled pines which grow wild in the high desert regions of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, should not be confounded with the “single needle” pine from Nevada.

    Why Is It Illegal To Harvest Them?

    Supply and preservation of the forest and land are the reasons it can be illegal to harvest pine nuts.

    The pine nut harvest season varies. Crop quality and seasonal weather conditions are factors, but the season is typically September to late October.

    There are two types of pine nut harvesting. Commercial use and personal use. Commercial harvesting is for anyone intending to sell their pine nut harvest — or harvesting large amounts for personal use. Personal consumption is collecting relatively small quantities and not meant for sale.

    Individuals and families can harvest up to 25 pounds per season/per household without a permit. This provision applies to Nevada BLM and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests and is meant to ensure a sustainable amount of harvest as well as a protection for natural resources.

    Even though a permit is not required, individuals and families should stop by the local BLM or Forest Service office to gather harvesting information which includes maps of crops areas, closure information, areas to avoid and fire restrictions.

    Harvesting for personal use is permitted anywhere pine trees can be found. The general public, as well as Tribal members, are authorized to collect for personal use and specific questions can be directed to the Lead Forester, 775-885-6021.

    Nevada BLM and National Forest law enforcement will pursue all federal violations. Violators can be punished by a $5,000 fine, six months in jail or both — per violation. Further charges may apply if resources are damaged as a result of illegal activity.