Vegas Man Sentenced As Habitual Criminal

District Attorney Announces Sentencing Of Vegas Man to 25 Year Prison Term

February 8, 2016

Reno, Nevada

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a Las Vegas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after prosecutors sought habitual criminal status in several recent burglary and eluding cases.  The sentence ensures that the defendant will serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Shawn Procacina, 37, (DOB 7/14/78) from Las Vegas, was sentenced on Thursday, February 4, 2016, in Washoe County District Court by Judge Jerome Polaha to 25 years in prison as a Habitual Criminal for one count of Burglary and one count of Eluding. Procacina was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for a separate Burglary conviction on another case.  However, the sentences in all three cases were ordered by the court to run concurrent. 

The case against Procacina began in June 2015, when the Reno Police Department responded to a burglary call at the Fortune Star Restaurant.  Officers caught Procacina running from the establishment while wearing a tactical vest, a Sparks Police Department badge, handcuffs, and a gun holster.  He was released on his own recognizance by the court and subsequently indicted by the Washoe County Grand Jury.  While that case was pending, the Reno Police Department investigated a burglary in November 2015 that occurred at Paisan’s Deli in Reno. Surveillance footage showed a male subject break though the store’s window, steal the cash register and drive away in a Jeep Wrangler. Several hours later, a Sparks Asian market was burglarized in a similar manner and the Sparks Police department linked the same Jeep to the area in which that burglary occurred. The Jeep was also determined to be stolen.  A few days later, the Jeep was involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit, when it fled from Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Deputies attempting a traffic stop.  Procacina fled from the vehicle on foot and was later found hiding in a dumpster.

Procacina was quickly linked to the two burglaries and arrested by the involved law enforcement agencies.  Procacina was subsequently charged by the District Attorney’s Office for felony eluding and two counts of burglary.  Habitual criminal adjudication was sought in December, 2015, following Procacina’s guilty plea.