Man charged with soliciting to kill judge

Ty Robben, the fired state taxation employee charged with two counts of intimidating Justice of the Peace John Tatro, now is charged with attempting to solicit someone to kill Tatro.

Robben, who is in jail awaiting trial on the original charges, reportedly tried to “solicit another to commit the murder of Carson City Justice of the Peace John Tatro either directly or through another person.”

Robben, who has been battling the state and the criminal justice system since he was terminated from the Taxation Department more than a year ago, already has been convicted of disorderly conduct.

Robben blamed Tatro for his treatment on the disorderly conduct charge involving his attempt to allegedly serve papers on behalf of a friend of the then-director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, Susan Martinovich.

Soliciting to commit murder is by far the most serious charge yet filed against him. It is a Category B felony punishable by two to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A bail hearing for Robben is set today. He has asked that his $50,000 bail be reduced. The DA’s office wants it increased.

Visiting judge Senior JP Harold Albright of Sparks will be in Carson City for that hearing, and he is expected to conduct Robben’s appearance on the new felony charge today.

Public Defender Jarrod Hickman argued in November that Robben thinks he has been treated so unfairly by the DA’s office that his rights have been violated. They lost an attempt to disqualify the DA’s office from prosecuting Robben on charges of libeling the judge, two counts of attempting to intimidate a public officer and stalking by electronic means.

In addition, Albright refused at that hearing to reduce Robben’s bail.

Those charges, one of which is another felony, are pending.