DA Downplays Violent Crime Against Elder?

82-year-old Snick Lee was reportedly out on a morning walk in his slippers, when his much younger neighbor allegedly punched him in the side of the head, dropping him. Will Churchill County, NV DA Mallory seek prosecution for Elder Abuse?

By Edward Snook
Investigative Reporter

Fallon, NV – Gone are the days when victims of crimes felt justice was served at the hands of those who profess to practice it. In fact, it has become commonplace for prosecutors to offer alleged perpetrators a deal to get an easy conviction, even when the crime is statutorily heinous. At times this can leave the victim feeling violated all over again. That’s how William “Snick” Lee professes to feel regarding an incident where he alleges to have been sucker-punched while he was out for a walk in his slippers on an easement near his home.

Snick Lee

Lee an 82-year-old, now “half-way crippled,” native Nevadan was born and raised in Fallon. In fact, Snick lives in the family home where he was raised and taught to farm by his parents Bill and Jo Lee. There is no doubting that Lee gets loud, and that to some he can come across abrasive, but according to a background report, he has never been charged with a crime and he isn’t known to be a liar.

According to Lee, on the morning of April 15th, 2023 while on a walk, he watched as his 57 year-old neighbor, Jay Moon, came toward him off Moon’s property. In Snick’s own words, “He [Moon] jumped the fence at his corals and crossed the concrete ditch. He kept coming and jumped to the easement and came toward me in a hurry. When he got to me, he hit me on the left side of my head and neck and I fell to the ground pretty damn hard.”

As reported, Lee sustained a cut across the top of his nose, and his glasses were broken. While Lee refused the offer by a responding sheriff’s deputy for aid, Lee later went to the ER to be seen.

“The doctor thought I could have had a broken neck.” An x-ray ruled out any broken bones, but it exacerbated a previously existing back and shoulder condition and has led to the possibility of surgeries.

As for his take on why he believes his neighbor did this to him, Snick stated, “We was good friends for quite a while until one time I was cleaning out the irrigation ditch and he came down and really chewed me out.” Lee continued, “I went to go talk with him about it and he got right in my face. I thought he was going to hit me then, but he didn’t, and I left. From then on Jay would always tell me he was going to sue me.” Lee believes there is a dispute regarding an easement that runs between multiple properties that has fueled the animosity.

Since the incident, some seven plus months ago, Lee has felt forgotten by the system and afraid of his neighbor. “Jay is always out there taking pictures of me whenever I am outside. I don’t feel safe.” Initially, Lee had a restraining order against Moon but it was not reinstated when Lee was unable to attend a hearing. Since, Moon has acquired his own restraining order against Lee. Lee tried to get a new order against Moon but the judge denied it, which could be construed as going against subsection 1(b) of the Nevada Victim’s Bill of Rights, that says a victim should be reasonably protected.

The judgment of those who have been privy to what has transpired since the alleged attack say that Lee is being treated more like a criminal than a victim.

The little information Lee says he has received has come from the Assistant DA prosecuting Moon. According to Lee she said she is also Lee’s victim’s advocate – an interesting assertion. According to Lee, and his relatives who have met with the prosecutor, there doesn’t seem to be a drive to take Moon’s case to trial, instead they were told that the DA might offer Moon a plea.

The problem is that what Moon allegedly perpetrated is not currently what he is being charged with. Under Nevada law anyone who physically harms someone over the age of sixty has committed Elder Abuse, which carries with it an enhanced charge as either a gross misdemeanor or a class C felony. It is something Lee as the victim is adamant Moon should face.

It is, however, something that Arthur E. Mallory’s District Attorney’s office seems already too eager to ignore. So much for the statement on the DA’s Churchill County website that reads:

In our criminal division, we represent the interests of citizens by ensuring that offenders within the county are timely charged with crimes that accurately reflect the offending conduct.

Churchill County, NV District Attorney Arthur E. Mallory

Lee has had to personally ensure that witnesses have been contacted by the sheriff’s department regarding the case. One such witness, a former neighbor maintains that Moon harassed and physically threatened him as well.

This constitutes a pattern of Moon’s alleged behavior. DA Mallory has the ability to protect the victim in this case and the citizens at large. Dropping charges and going for a nothing plea does not serve justice for anyone.

One thing for Mallory to consider, according to the background report previously mentioned, Lee has not ever been charged with harming another soul, that is not something Jay Moon can claim.

Snick just wants to be left alone in peace and feel protected. Right now, he’s afraid that Moon will come after him again. “I don’t move so well, especially since this attack. I’m not a threat to anyone, and I wouldn’t stand a chance if he were to come after me again.”

DA Mallory, serve justice and prosecute Moon. A jury needs to decide this case and it appears you are not giving them the opportunity.

Editor’s Note: Almost two months ago Edward Snook sent a letter to DA Mallory outlining the injustice of charging Moon with anything other than Elder Abuse. Apparently, he did not take it to heart, and we felt compelled to inform Mallory’s constituents.