Man jailed on felony suspicion of child endangerment and firearm possession

A 37-year-old Carson City man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child endangerment, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

According to the arrest report officers were called at 6:35 p.m. to a residence in the 1200 block of Jacobs Way occupied by Coby Porter Jr., who was later arrested, and his four children, all under 10 years of age.

The check was requested by the mother who advised that her ex-husband had illegal narcotics and unsecured firearms in close proximity to where his children were sleeping, the arrest report states.

Officers arrived at the home, which was relatively clean and the kids appeared OK, the report states. At first Porter advised his children were all sleeping on the couch. The deputy asked if he had his own bedroom and he advised he did.

The man escorted officers to the room and notice a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. On a dresser in plain view were two multi-colored glass marijuana pipes and a small amount of marijuana in a pill bottle. The officer confronted the man with the observation and he admitted he does not possess a legal marijuana card and illegally uses marijuana to medicate himself for mental health issues, the arrest report states.

There were multiple children’s blankets and pillows on the floor in the bedroom next to the dresser, according to the arrest report. The officer asked if the kids slept in the room with him. The man admitted they did on occasion and further advised he was the only adult to occupy the room. The officer asked the man if there were firearms in the room. The officer observed three rifle cases stacked together in the corner by the closet, the report states.

The man admitted he did then quickly opened a dresser drawer. The officer could see a black handgun and brown leather holder near a large glass jar that contained marijuana. The officer asked the man not to touch the gun and to step back. The man did not listen to the command and reached into the drawer which was partially observed from the officer’s view, the arrest report states. The officer repeated several times for the man to step away from the firearm. He again did not listen and began to pick up the still-holstered weapon.

At this point the officer quickly closed the distance between he and the man and was prepared to draw his sidearm. The officer put an outstretched hand against the man and moved him aside as he came between him and the weapon, the arrest report states. Porter then put his hands up and said he was sorry.

With the drawer fully opened the officer observed marijuana, the handgun, knives and ammunition. The drawer was the second from the bottom and within easy reach of any of the four children. The pillows and blankets were aligned on the floor so the heads of the kids would rest against the dresser, the officer observed.

The deputy asked the man if he could look through other drawers. Porter agreed. Without rifling through or moving any items aside he observed children’s clothing, toys and DVDs as well as Porter’s own clothes. The officer told the man the concern was the proximity of guns, ammunition and drugs to the children. The man admitted the situation was dangerous. He was arrested.

Dispatch advised the man had a criminal history. Porter told the officer that he had been arrested for felonies but never convicted. He did confirm that he had been convicted for domestic battery in 2002. His arrest record included other incidents of domestic battery, drug and alcohol related charges, the report states.

Due to the circumstances and his criminal history, the officer consulted with the District Attorneys office on a charge of possessing firearms and drugs with a criminal history, which would be a felony offense charge under federal laws. He was charged with suspicion of having firearms prohibited by a person with drugs and a criminal past, child endangerment, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The case has been forwarded to the BATF for further investigation. The children were released to their mother. Bail: $9,374 bail.

In other arrests:
— A 33-year-old Reno woman was booked into Carson City Jail Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. on a misdemeanor warrant, violation of conditions of probation, issued out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

— A 38-year-old Carson City man was booked into Carson City Jail Tuesday, 1:55 p.m., on a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest, violation of a suspended sentence, issued Nov. 12, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,000.

— A 50-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Tuesday, 10:25 a.m. in the 1400 block of Rand Avenue on a misdemeanor warrant issued May 13, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

— A 28-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Tuesday, 3 p.m. in the area of Stewart and Little streets on a misdemeanor warrant, contempt of court, issued Oct. 2, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $229.

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