Carson City man jailed for attempting to return stolen items using a stolen receipt

A 22-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday in the 3200 block of Market Street on suspicion of felony burglary, felony obtaining money under false pretenses, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a sheriff's deputy reported.

Chance Higby Banta was arrested at a store after deputies were called in reference to a fraud attempt at customer service. Three employees of the store had followed and stopped the subject, the report stated, on the west side of the store.

Deputies spoke to one of the employees, who told deputies she had watched the suspect on security footage attempt to obtain money from the store by coming into the store with a receipt, taking items off the shelves that matched the receipt, leaving the store with those items, before coming back in the store and attempting to return the items to receive money, the arrest report states.


On the security footage, Banta is seen matching items on the shelf with items on the receipt in the automotive section of the store, before walking out of the automotive exit and reentering through the grocery entrance door, the report states.

One of the customer service clerks scanned the receipt to find that the items had already been returned the previous day. They took the items and did not give him any money in exchange.

As Banta was being taken into custody, deputies located hypodermic needles in his front pants pocket, as well as a metal spoon with drug residue, a tin cap and cotton swabs in a black pouch concealed on his person.

He was transferred to the Carson City Jail without incident. Bail: $41,137.

In other arrests:
— A 49-year-old Carson City woman was arrested in the 100 block of Jacobsen Way for battery, and violation of pre-trial conditions.

According to the arrest report, the woman was arrested after deputies were contacted by the victim, who said the woman sat behind her on a bus and grabbed her by the hair and shook her head violently. Deputies spoke to another person on the bus, who confirmed the story.

Deputies made contact with the woman and learned she was on alternative sentencing for a previous battery charge. She had previously been charged with battery on several occasions, according to the report.

Deputies spoke to the woman and asked what happened. She said she heard the woman in front of her talking about her, so she grabbed her hair clip. She said she should have kept her hands to herself.

She was taken into custody without incident. Bail: $4,137; $3,000 cash only.

— A 25-year-old Carson City woman was arrested in the area of E. William and Saliman for violating her probation after having marijuana in the car she was driving. According to the report, the woman was stopped after driving passed a deputy without license plates on the vehicle.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop and noted that the woman was perspiring profusely, had rapidly shaking hands and her voice was wavering the point her speech was altered. She told deputies she was coming home from the methadone clinic, and that she had been going every day for two years. She told deputies she did not have her license on her, but gave her name, date of birth, and social security number.

Deputies learned she was on alternative sentencing for a previous case, and that she had several conditions including no drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Deputies asked if they could search her car, which she voluntarily allowed. She said there should be nothing illegal in the vehicle. In the center console, deputies located a black tube container with a marijuana cigarette. In the passenger door they also located a marijuana pipe.

Dispatch advised alternative sentencing wanted her arrested for the marijuana and paraphernalia. She was taken into custody without incident. Bail: $3,000 cash only

Warrants:
— A 22-year-old Carson City man, while being brought in as a fugitive of justice on a felony grand theft auto warrant, was also booked on a contempt of court warrant out of Washoe County Justice Court. Bail: $5,000 cash only.

— A 41-year-old Carson City woman was booked on a Carson City Justice Court warrant for violating conditions of a suspended sentence while in custody at the Carson City Jail. Bail: $1,000 cash only.

— A 41-year-old Carson City man was arrested on a Carson City Justice Court warrant after deputies were assisting the Division of Child and Family Services on a home check.

While in the home, deputies made contact with the man and learned of his warrant. He was taken into custody without incident. Bail: $3,000 cash only.

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.