Tree-cutter gets four-minute probation

RENO -- At one point this year, Patricia Vincent faced up to 20 years in prison for hiring a company to chop down trees on national forest land next to her house to improve her view of Lake Tahoe.

Instead, she ended up serving about 4 minutes of probation.

"This case is unique, no matter how you cut it," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Rachow said at Wednesday's sentencing hearing.

Vincent, 57, of Incline Village, also performed more than 80 hours of community service and paid $100,000 in restitution as part of a deal in which she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully cutting trees on U.S. land.

The short probation period was a legal technicality resulting from the fact that she already had paid the restitution and completed the community service by the time she arrived in federal court for sentencing.

The plea deal dictated that upon completion of those requirements, the probation would be suspended.

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Sandoval questioned why it was necessary to include the probation as part of the sentence.

"It is unusual to request to put on probation, then take it off. It would be the fastest probation I have ever imposed," he told Rachow and defense attorney Scott Freeman.

But Rachow said it was necessary to have a record of the probation if, for some reason, problems developed with verifying completion of community service.

So Sandoval reluctantly acquiesced.

"It is a bit awkward to have a probation last just seconds," he said before ordering the probation at 4:58 p.m.

Next, Sandoval said he was required to inform Vincent that, while on probation, the conditions dictate that she commit no other crime, possess no illegal substances and be subject to immediate search of her house and vehicle if requested by law enforcement.

Then, at 5:02 p.m., Sandoval ruled favorably on Freeman's motion to suspend the probation.