Conviction in Burglary Case

District Attorney Seeking Habitual Criminal Status for Man Previously Convicted of Multiple Burglary and Drug Charges

April 18, 2016
Reno, Nevada

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured a guilty verdict against a man charged with burglary.  The man was found guilty after a four day jury trial in District Court that concluded last Thursday.  The DA’s Office intends to seek a habitual criminal sentence based on the defendant’s extensive criminal history that includes 11 prior felony convictions.

Cameron Francis Covington, 33 (DOB 11/19/82) from Tahoe Vista, California was found guilty of one count of Burglary in Washoe County District Court.  Trial began Monday, April 11, 2016 and conclude the following Thursday, with the jury deliberating for less than four hours before Covington was convicted of the felony charge. 

The case against Covington began on February 15, 2014, when the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary report involving an Incline Village doctor’s office. The Sheriff’s Office investigation determined that the suspect had gained entry into the office through a window after unsuccessfully attempting to pry the office door open. Items taken in the burglary included non-narcotic medications, a prescription pad and $260.00 in cash. Covington was eventually identified as a suspect in the burglary, with the assistance of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. A second suspect may have been involved, but was not arrested. 

During trial, the prosecutor introduced evidence that showed Covington had broken into the Incline office in the middle of the night after having been seen there earlier that day. Detectives testified that Covington admitted to burglarizing the office and led them to the location of the stolen prescription pad which he had thrown away several days prior to being arrested.   

Based on Covington’s extensive criminal history dating back to 2003, the District Attorney’s Office filed with the Court a notice of intent to seek habitual criminal status at sentencing alleging Covington has previously been convicted of 11 felony charges in Nevada and California. Covington’s prior convictions include burglary, stolen property and drug charges.  

Covington is set to be sentenced on June 17, 2016 and faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison if sentenced as a habitual criminal.  In contrast, the sentence for the burglary would be a term of 1 to 10 years in prison.