Pair held in store's burglary, trafficking

Two Indian Hills residents are set to appear in East Fork Justice Court today in connection with the theft of $12,000 from the Carson Country Market.

Tiffany Hettrick, 29, was in Douglas County Jail on $45,000 bail on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance and accessory to a burglary, both felonies.

Her roommate, Brian Cooper, 34, was jailed on $25,000 bail on felony charges of burglary and grand larceny.

According to investigators, Cooper returned to the couple's home in the 900 block of Opalite after he allegedly took the money from the market early Friday. Hettrick allegedly said she helped him get rid of his clothes.

She told authorities she drove Cooper and his girlfriend to a culvert off Jacks Valley Road where they disposed of his clothes and an empty bag that had contained the money. Authorities have recovered about $5,000.

When deputies went to the residence looking for Cooper, they said Hettrick was in the middle of a drug transaction with Carl Evanson, 35, of Gardnerville.

She said she sold Evanson $40 of methamphetamine. Deputies found 12 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Evanson was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for sale. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

The shift manager of the Indian Hills convenience store called deputies early Friday to report that a bag containing $12,000 in $20 bills was missing.

An employee of United Coin of Sparks had come into the store at 6 a.m. to run reports and complete the money count. He told deputies he placed a red bag with $12,000 in $20 bills behind the counter while he completed his reports. When he went to retrieve the bag 45 minutes later, it was missing.

Deputies reviewed a videotape and saw an individual identified as Cooper enter and leave the store several times just after it opened, finally leaving with the money bag and walking toward Vista Grande apartments. Deputies recognized Cooper from prior contacts.

Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl refused to lower bail for either defendant.

"Miss Hettrick has been in here on many occasions," EnEarl said. "She's been involved with the use of methamphetamine for several years. Each time she comes back, the charges get more serious."

Hettrick said she would live with her parents. She is the daughter of Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville.

"I have been trying to do the right thing. I have school, and I have work. I want to go home with my mother and father," she told the judge.

EnEarl said her lawyer, Tom Susich of Carson City, would have the opportunity to argue for her release today, but he wanted her to stay in jail overnight.

"If you get convicted of these charges, there's a strong possibility you will go to prison," EnEarl said. "I have been trying to talk to you about this for four or five years. I'm not doing much good."