Judge revokes probation of ex-Nevada prison guard who smuggled contraband
A former Nevada prison guard convicted in a smartphone smuggling plot involving notorious Strip shooter Ammar Harris is heading to prison after his probation was revoked Wednesday.
Derland Blake, 32, of North Las Vegas was sentenced in January 2015 to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to smuggling phones and other contraband into High Desert State Prison.
Harris was sentenced to death in November 2015. He fatally shot Kenneth Cherry Jr. in February 2013 while he was driving on the Strip, causing him to slam into a taxi. The taxi exploded and killed driver Michael Boldon, 62, of Las Vegas and his passenger, Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, 48, a mother of three from Washington.
District Judge Kathleen Delaney revoked Blake’s probation after he was charged with three counts of lewdness with a child under the age of 14 and sent him to state prison for one to three years.
An arrest warrant for Blake on lewdness charges was issued in August in North Las Vegas Justice Court. Court records suggest an incident occurred in January with a minor who lives in California.
North Las Vegas police declined to elaborate on the lewdness allegations Wednesday afternoon.
“This one’s really sensitive,” said officer Ann Cavaricci, a department spokeswoman.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Follow @WesJuhl on Twitter.
