Carson City man arrested on felony battery, stolen property charges

A Carson City man who had a felony warrant for possession of stolen property was arrested Monday at a Brick Road resident on suspicion of felony domestic battery with strangulation, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Stephen Mendes, 42, is being held on $35,000 bail. According to the arrest report, officers were called to the 5000 block of Brick Road for a report of domestic battery. Officers arrived and met with Mendes and asked what happened.

Mendes said the he and his sister had gotten into an argument and that he fell to the ground due to a bad knee. He also stated that he and his sister wrestled around in a dirt lot and that was how he scratched his face. Mendes was informed he had a warrant for his arrest and he was placed into custody on the warrant charge.

Officers spoke with the victim who said that she and her brother got into an argument and that he attacked her. She told officers that he grabbed her by the neck. She showed her throat and neck, which officers observed several red marks and distinct finger marks on her neck, the arrest report states. She further stated that she began to slap and “claw” at Mendes and that is why he had scratches on his face. She said her brother poked her in the eye and scratched her face.

Mendes was advised of his Miranda right where he told officers he understood and was willing to speak. He denied hitting the woman or putting his hands on her neck and throat. Due to the marks on the woman and statements she made, officers determined Mendes was the primary aggressor and he was arrested on the felony charge of domestic battery with strangulation. The felony warrant for possession of property was issued Nov. 14, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court.

In other arrests:

— A 19-year-old Reno man was arrested Monday, 10:07 a.m. in the 3400 block of Highway 50 East on a misdemeanor charge, unlawful act with a minor. According to the arrest report, a parent contacted the sheriff’s office regarding her daughter’s phone and text messages and an image of a naked man. The daughter is 14.

The mother had taken the phone from the daughter because she had run away, the arrest report states. She had been texting messages to the man as her daughter, the arrest report states. Officers met with the man as an arrangement was made by the mother posing as the daughter to show at the residence to meet the daughter.

Upon arrival officer me with the man who said he was there visiting a friend. He was unable to provide a space number residence for the friend, saying he had been Facebook messaging with them.

Officers asked what his phone number was. He provided the phone number. The phone number matched a phone number on the teenager’s cell phone, the arrest report states. The officer asked the mother of the teen if the text image had a picture of the man’s face. The photo was of genitalia and not a man’s face, she told deputies.

Officers spoke with the man, who admitted he had come to the home to meet with the teen. The man told officers he thought she was 15 years old. The officer told the man that even if she were 15, the age of consent in Nevada is 16. Officers asked the man if he had sent a picture of his genitalia. He said he had. He said the girl had sent him a picture of her breasts. He unlocked his phone and showed the photo of the girl’s face and her bare breasts.
The officer told the man that he was under arrest for unlawful acts with a minor and took him into custody. During a search officers found two unopened condoms in the man’s front pocket. Bail: $1,137.

— A 21-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday, 1:42 p.m. in the 1300 block of East Fifth Street on a misdemeanor warrant. Bail: $500.

— A 28-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Monday, 12:25 p.m. in the 700 block of Walsh Street on a misdemeanor contempt of court warrant issued Oct. 28, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $500.

— A 19-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday, 11:43 p.m. in the 3000 block of Wingate Way on a misdemeanor warrant, contempt of court, issued Nov. 14, 2014. Bail: $1,000.

— A 28-year-old Carson City man was booked into jail on two misdemeanor warrants, failure to appear and contempt of court, issued out of East Fork Township. Bail: $725.

Those arrested and facing criminal charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.