Joanna Plants Pleaded Guilty

Joanna Plants, 17, Pleaded Guilty Murder of Her Stepmother

By VANESSA BURCH  | 

Posted: Sun 10:28 AM, Oct 28, 2007  | 

Updated: Sun 2:45 PM, Oct 28, 2007

 

The sentencing of Joanna Plants, 18, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder of her stepmother, Ginger Plants, 42, at the family's Fallon home earlier this year has been postponed until Dec. 4 at 1 p.m.
Plants' sentencing was scheduled to take place Tuesday, Oct. 23, but according to District Attorney Arthur Mallory, District Court Judge David Huff fell ill and was unable to preside over the case.

"There were no objections to the rescheduling," said Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills.

Besides, Mallory said that Plant's attorney, County Public Defender Paul Drakulich, "wanted more time."

Plants, who was 17 when she shot the wife of her father, Tim Plants, was tried as an adult since the charge against her was murder, said Mallory.

When sentenced, Plants will receive one of three penalties.

According to Mallory, Plants faces life without the possibility of parole, life with the possibility of parole or a 50-year term with the possibility of "She has to serve a minimum of 20 years before they would even consider her for parole," said Mallory.

Fallon teen is charged with killing her stepmother

Marlene Garcia

March 6, 2007

 

 

Joanna Plants is led from Churchill County Justice Court Tuesday by Deputy Cpl. Shawn Summers after her arraignment on murder charges. Plants, 17, is accused of shooting her stepmother in the head on Monday. She is being held in jail on $1 million bail.

 

A 17-year-old Fallon girl was arraigned Tuesday and formally charged with shooting her stepmother to death at the family home on Monday.

Joanna Marie Plants appeared in Churchill County Justice Court where she told Justice of the Peace Mike Richards she understood the charges she is facing – open murder with the use of a firearm, first degree felony murder with the use of a firearm and being a user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm.

She said, “No, I don’t your honor,” when asked if she could afford to hire an attorney to represent her.

“I have $1,000 in a savings account but I can’t get to it until I’m 18. That’s all I have,” Plants said.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 16.

A criminal complaint accuses the teen of using a .380 Taurus semi-automatic handgun to shoot and kill Ginger Plants, 42, at 2350 Schurz Highway where the family lives.

The document alleges the teen entered the residence with the intent to commit assault or battery or another felony crime. While in the home, she used the gun to shoot and kill her stepmother, the complaint states.

The document states Joanna was a methamphetamine user at the time of the alleged murder.

She is being held in the Churchill County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

“When we file murder charges, the defendant is automatically transferred to adult status,” said Deputy District Attorney Tom Stockard when asked about how juveniles are treated in certain crimes.

For less serious offenses, a hearing must be held to determine if a minor should face charges as an adult.

Churchill County Sheriff Richard Ingram said in a prepared statement that deputies were called to a shooting on the Schurz Highway at 11:10 a.m. Monday.

When they arrived, deputies found Ginger Plants dead inside the home. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning on the women. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. A detailed autopsy report is pending.

A neighbor reportedly told investigators that Joanna Plants asked the neighbor for a ride to a church the family attends on Crook Road at about 10:45 a.m.

The neighbor told police she noticed the teen had a pistol during the drive to the church and was able to convince Joanna to leave the weapon in the vehicle once they arrived at the Crook Road address. The neighbor also told deputies about “statements” the teen made during the ride.

The girl reportedly got out of the car and ran to the rear of the church. She was later found hiding in tall weeds inside a corral at the back of the property, the sheriff states. She was arrested without incident.

Tim Plants, Joanna’s father, is listed as the pastor of Stillwater Indian Church on a Fallon Web site.

Churchill County School District Superintendent Carolyn Ross said three local schools were locked down Monday for a brief period before Joanna Plants was taken into custody. Churchill County High School, Churchill County Junior High School and Lahontan Valley High School were all locked up during a search for the suspect.

“I was told she was on her way to school when they got her. I don’t think the schools were locked down very long,” Ross said Tuesday.

That information was erroneous, according to the sheriff.

“There had been early speculation that Joanna Plants may be en route to a local school; however, this was unfounded,” Ingram states.

Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said once he learned the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office was looking for Joanna Plants, he decided the schools should be locked down as a precaution. Brooks said the lock-down lasted approximately an hour.

“We heard the sheriff’s (radio) traffic and realized we had an individual possibly out and about in possession of weapon,” he said.

Ross said Joanna completed her work at Lahontan Valley High School last month and was scheduled to graduate this year. Lahontan Valley High School is an alternative school that allows students to make up lost credits, work ahead of schedule or complete school via online lessons.

Joanna Plant was a witness in a court case in 2005 when she testified she had used methamphetamine since she was 11 years old. Joanna also said she had run away from home and stayed with known drug users in Fallon.

Ginger Plants became Joanna’s stepmother in 2002 after she married longtime Churchill County resident Tim Plants.

That same year, Ginger Plants was hired to run a pre-school program for 4-year-old youngsters. She also worked as a substitute teacher in Fallon schools. She had many years experience in education.

Tim Plants was overcome with grief Monday shortly after the shooting when a Churchill County Sheriff’s deputy broke the news about his wife and daughter. He sat in a patrol car while more than a dozen law enforcement officers converged near the Plants home.

The Schurz Highway was shut down to both north and southbound traffic for more than an hour. It later opened up to one-way traffic while investigators processed the crime scene.

The investigation is continuing.