In February, DeNava sat behind her son at Leyva’s District Court hearings. Wallace also went to the court hearings; the two did not speak or interact.
On Feb. 24, Wallace complained that DeNava displayed “contempt” of the judge’s order by appearing at her son’s Feb. 21 change-of-plea hearing, calling it “voluntary” and “clear violation of the modified (protection) order.”
Wallace has the victim’s right to attend Leyva’s criminal hearing, he said. DeNava was aware of his presence and her voluntary attendance was “a clear violation” of the protection order against her, the document says.
DeNava must show why she shouldn’t be found guilty of contempt of court, it says.
Judge Haws ordered DeNava to appear in Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 14, at 9 a.m. to answer to Wallace’s complaint.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
SUBLETTE COUNTY – A Pinedale doctor injured in a domestic argument last year is trying to ban his estranged husband’s mother from supporting her son in the courtroom.
She is already forbidden to seek any medical treatment whatsoever from the Sublette County medical clinics except for extreme threats to life or limb, court records show.
On Aug. 31, 2022, an injured Dr. Stephen Buck Wallace was life-flighted to Idaho Falls after he drove to a neighbor’s on Rendezvous Drive in Daniel to say his husband, Nicholas A. Leyva, assaulted him during an argument in their home.
Leyva was arrested, taken into custody and charged with assault and battery felonies including second-degree attempted murder. Leyva appeared before Sublette County Circuit Court Judge Curt Haws, who bound the case over to 9th District Court where Leyva pleaded not guilty. His March jury trial was vacated when he pleaded no contest to reduced charges
Leyva’s mother, Gloria T. DeNava, left Idyllwild, Calif., and arrived in Sublette County to support Leyva. Wallace claimed she was stalking him and requested a protection order. Wallace claimed he was afraid for himself and his property, citing several 911 calls he made when he thought she was at his home, records show.
DeNava requested a protection order against Wallace, saying she could prove she was not at Wallace’s residence at those times. However, Judge Haws refused her evidence and denied her protection-order request, records show.
Judge Haws ordered DeNava to not go to Wallace’s place of employment – the Big Piney and Pinedale medical clinics – which she said she did for rheumatoid arthritis assessment and treatment and once to drive her ill husband, after being told Wallace was not present, she said.
DeNava asked the judge to amend the order so she could seek medical care for medical treatments. Wallace claimed that DeNava violated the stalking order and asked Judge Haws to find DeNava in violation.
Judge Haws ruled DeNava violated his order and sentenced her to 10 days in jail, suspended, with a strict order to not go to either county clinic except for an extreme emergency, records show. The judge also ordered her to not be “at any other locations where (Wallace) may be found” or he would impose the 10-day jail sentence.
In February, DeNava sat behind her son at Leyva’s District Court hearings. Wallace also went to the court hearings; the two did not speak or interact.
On Feb. 24, Wallace complained that DeNava displayed “contempt” of the judge’s order by appearing at her son’s Feb. 21 change-of-plea hearing, calling it “voluntary” and “clear violation of the modified (protection) order.”
Wallace has the victim’s right to attend Leyva’s criminal hearing, he said. DeNava was aware of his presence and her voluntary attendance was “a clear violation” of the protection order against her, the document says.
DeNava must show why she shouldn’t be found guilty of contempt of court, it says.
Judge Haws ordered DeNava to appear in Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 14, at 9 a.m. to answer to Wallace’s complaint.
Leyva, who pleaded no contest to reduced charges, has his sentencing hearing on March 23 at 9 a.m. before District Judge Kate McKay.
