Recent Domestic Battery Trial Result

District Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Verdict In Strangulation Case

August 22, 2016

Reno, Nevada

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks announced a conviction in a domestic battery case involving strangulation. The conviction marks the second time this month that a jury has found a defendant guilty of committing this type of crime, which carries a mandatory possible sentence of up to 5 years in prison. In addition to the strangulation charge, the defendant was also found guilty of two other related charges and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Samuel Edward Meyer, 50, from Reno was found guilty on one count of Domestic Battery by Strangulation, one count of Battery Causing Substantial Bodily Harm and one count of False Imprisonment.  The trial began Monday, August 15, 2016 in Department 10 of District Court and concluded last Wednesday evening with the jury deliberating for 3 hours before reaching their verdict.

The case against Meyer began November 13, 2015 when the Reno Police department responded to a domestic battery.  When officers arrived, they met with the victim who had numerous injuries including bruising and a swollen black eye. The victim was transported to the hospital where she was treated for broken ribs and a closed head injury. Officers determined that the victim and Meyer had ended a dating relationship prior to the defendant showing up at the victim’s home intoxicated the previous evening.  While at the home, the two argued and Meyer began beating the victim and threatening to kill her. Meyer, who is over 6 feet tall, strangled the 5 foot 3 victim unconscious twice during the incident.  The victim woke the next morning to find Meyer still at her home.  He eventually left and the victim immediately called police. Officers located Meyer three days later and arrested him on domestic battery charges.  This Office subsequently filed formal criminal charges against him and the case proceeded to trial.          

During trial, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Sean Alexander presented victim and expert witness testimony establishing Meyer’s guilt. Meyer took the stand on his own behalf and claimed that he acted in self-defense.  During closing argument, DDA Alexander argued that the evidence did not support Meyer’s claim that the victim was the initial aggressor and that the evidence establishing his guilty was overwhelming.    

Meyer is set for sentencing on October 4, 2016 in department 10 of Washoe County District Court.