Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Local man returns to prison

Johnny Stonelake had told Clovis Police during a SWAT standoff last fall he wanted to go to jail.

Tuesday, Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced Stonelake, 48, of Clovis, was ordered back to prison for being in violation of probation.

In a news release, Ray wrote Stonelake was convicted in 2014 of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

After serving time in the Department of Corrections, Stonelake was placed on probation.

Stonelake violated his probation by cutting off his ankle monitor, failing to report to probation and picking up new charges. Stonelake picked up new charges to include 3 counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, failing to comply with sex offender registration procedures, and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

Ninth Judicial District Judge Drew D. Tatum revoked Stonelake's probation and remanded him to prison for the remainder of his probation term which is set to expire in 2029.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney, Gina Nunez.

Stonelake was represented by criminal defense attorney, Sandra Gallagher of Clovis.

A message left on Gallagher's voice mail was not returned.

Stonelake was the subject of a SWAT incident in Clovis on Nov. 10.

Clovis Police Captain Roman Romero wrote department dispatch got a 911 call that afternoon from a man who said he had "been accused of molesting someone and said he wanted to be taken to jail."

Officers arrived at the man's home in the 1100 block of Purdue Street and identified him as Stonelake.

Romero reports during contact officers saw Stonelake holding a pistol.

Romero wrote family members recalled Stonelake did have an "airsoft" pistol that was quite realistic, but they did not believe he had any actual firearms.

Stonelake allegedly would point the weapon at Officers and seemed to be waiting to be shot, according to Romero.\The SWAT Entry Team was able to use an unspecified "less lethal option" against Stonelake, taking him into custody.

Romero reports Stonelake's weapon was later identified as a pellet gun.