Felony Eluding Conviction Leads To Habitual Criminal Sentencing

District Attorney's Office Continues Staunch Advocacy Against Habitual Criminals

August 11, 2016

Reno, Nevada

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a Reno man has been sentenced as a habitual criminal to 20 years in prison, which resulted from a recent conviction for felony eluding.  This Office previously released information about the man’s conviction and the intent to seek habitual offender sentencing based on a criminal history that included 13 prior felony convictions.  The sentence received today ensures the man will serve a minimum of 5 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. 

The case against Mathew Paul Williams, 32, began on January 29, 2015 when the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) attempted a traffic stop after he was spotted going northbound on Interstate 580 at an estimated speed of 90 mph. Williams initially stopped and provided the trooper with a California identification card. During the stop, the trooper discovered that Williams was wanted on a felony probation violation warrant for an underlying burglary charge out of California.  Williams fled when the trooper attempted to take him into custody, and a pursuit followed.  Williams eventually crashed and fled from the scene before troopers arrived.  A warrant was issued and Williams was arrested in September, 2015 following a routine traffic stop.  

During sentencing Deputy District Attorney Carrie Morton argued that not a year would go by without the defendant committing new crimes, even while facing active ones. She also presented evidence of Williams’ 13 felony convictions for crimes including burglary, possession of controlled substance, grand larceny, commercial burglary, forgery and theft. 

In remarking on the sentence, District Attorney Hicks commented “the DA’s office continues its staunch advocacy against repeat offenders like Williams who leave a wake of victims and societal costs behind them”.