Four to plead guilty in robbery of Nye official

Four suspects in the Dec. 11 home invasion robbery of Nye County public administrator Robert Jones have agreed to plead guilty to robbery and kidnapping charges.

Under a deal with prosecutors, Dylan Wade Spellman, 19, Jamie Ann Sexton, 22, Joshua J. Cotton, 21, and Jemere Reid, 22, are expected to plead guilty to one count each of robbery and second-degree kidnapping during their District Court arraignment Monday in Pahrump.

That leaves one suspect: Nicholas James Willing, 42, whom authorities described as a disgruntled employee of Jones and the mastermind behind the robbery.

"He doesn't want to take a deal, and that's OK with me," Nye County District Attorney Brian Kunzi said.

Jones said he was tied up in front of his wife and 7-year-old child and forced to open several safes that contained property he secured while administering the estates of people who died without leaving a will or next of kin.

The suspects dressed in black, wore ski masks and were armed with a shotgun and a handgun.

Jones resigned from office within hours of the robbery. He said that his family was terrorized by the attack and that it wasn't worth it to him to continue in the job.

His term was due to expire Jan. 3.

The suspects fled with money, including silver half dollars, and other property.

Two days later, Spellman and Sexton were arrested shortly after authorities said they tried to cash almost 1,000 half dollars at a local grocery store.

Willing did not directly participate in the home invasion, but Sexton detailed his involvement during his preliminary hearing in Pahrump Justice Court this month, painting him as the one who had orchestrated the caper, Kunzi said.

Most if not all of the stolen property has been recovered, Kunzi said.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.