Guilty Verdict In Home Invasion Case

District Attorney Announces Verdict

August 24, 2016

Reno, Nevada

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announces a conviction in a recent trial involving charges of home invasion, coercion and false imprisonment.  The charges stem from a May, 2016 incident and were committed in violation of an extended protection order obtained by the victim in the case. The defendant faces up to 26 years in prison and will be sentenced later this year.

Ashley Glynn Branch, 35, of Reno, was found guilty yesterday afternoon on one count of Home Invasion, one count of Coercion with Physical Force or Immediate Threat of Physical Force and one count of False Imprisonment.  Trial began Friday, August 19, 2016 and concluded with the jury reaching a verdict yesterday afternoon after deliberating less than 2 hours.     

On May 15, 2016, The Reno Police Department (RPD) responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in Stead.  When Officers arrived, they contacted Branch and the victim in the case, Branch’s estranged wife.  Further investigation determined that the victim had a current extended protection order against Branch, who had arrived at the victim’s house and broken through a back door. Once inside, Branch threatened the victim and forced her to accompany him to his nearby parked car, then back to the house where he refused to allow her to leave. Once back in the home, the victim was able to get a message to a relative, who called police.  RPD officers arrived shortly after and encountered Branch who was chasing after the victim as she was running from the home.

During trial, Deputy District Attorney Carrie Morton presented evidence of Branch being on probation during this case for a prior attempted felony coercion conviction with the same victim from 2016.  She argued that the coercion charge included evidence of the defendant holding the victim down and biting her arm, breaking the skin and causing swelling and bruising. During testimony, the victim showed the jury her scar from the bite. DDA Morton also introduced photographs of the broken door and the injury to the victim’s arm.

Branch will be sentenced on October 27, 2016 in Department 1, Washoe County District Court.