Guilty Verdict in Felony Battery and Assault Case

District Attorney Announces Guilty Verdict in Recent District Court Trial

May 20, 2016

Reno, Nevada

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that a Sparks man has been found guilty of felony battery and assault charges after a four day jury trial held in Washoe County District Court. The charges against the defendant stemmed from a May, 2015 incident in which a female victim was punched and stabbed with a knife in the face causing severe damage to her eye.

Joshua Ethan Aguilar, 27 (dob 2/1/89)from Sparks, Nevada was found guilty yesterday afternoon of one count of Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm and one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon. 

The case against Aguilar began on May 28, 2015 when a female victim and her sister went to the Reno Police Department to report the stabbing.  The victim told officers that they were confronted in Downtown Reno four days earlier by a male and female who were unknown to the victim.  According to the victim, the couple attempted to instigate a fight with the two women.  The victim and her sister tried to walk away but were attacked by the male who began threatening them with a knife. During the attack, the male punched the victim in the face while holding the knife and drug its blade down and across her left eye and cheek. The two women were able to get away and the victim immediately went to the hospital for treatment.  The Reno officers were able to identify and arrest Aguilar, who was subsequently charged by this office.

During trial, the prosecutor presented evidence that the victim’s injuries from the attack are permanent and she will never regain eyesight in her left eye.  The victim’s sister testified that they were reluctant to report the crime over fears of retaliation.  The defendant also testified and claimed that the knife seen in his hand on nearby surveillance footage was really just a cell phone.

Sentencing in the case is set for July 5, 2016 in District Court department 8 before Judge Lidia Stiglich.  Aguilar faces up to 21 years in prison.