Man agrees to testify against others in mail-theft case

At the same time, Richard John Sanchez, 25, waived a preliminary hearing Friday in Carson City Justice Court and agreed to plead guilty to a felony possession of stolen property charge as part of a plea bargain.

In return, prosecutors agreed to drop charges of forgery and failure to register as an ex-felon. They also agreed to recommend a sentence of 36 months to 90 months for Sanchez, who faces up to 10 years in prison for the plea.

Sanchez was one of three people arrested Jan. 22 in a mail theft, forgery and counterfeiting operation in Carson City.

David Michael Baker, 36, and Linda Anne Campau, 47, both of Carson City, await Feb. 19 preliminary hearings in justice court.

Investigators said the three stole a U.S. Postal Service mailbox and fashioned keys to open several other mailboxes in the city.

The defendants then allegedly forged checks and money orders taken from the mailboxes.

Investigators have recovered more than 200 stolen letters, more than 50 forged money orders and a large amount of counterfeit currency.

Victim Janet Leichsenring of Carson City said she plans to attend all court hearings and trials that result from the case.

She said she paid off all $2,900 in bills in mid-January after getting a small inheritance. But her payments, dropped in a mailbox outside the Washington Street post office, were among the stolen pieces of mail.

"My life is ruined," Leichsenring said. "I'm losing my car. I almost lost my house, which I just moved into last month. My checking account is overdrawn. My credit history is ruined."

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