Guilty Verdict In Domestic Battery Trial

District Attorney Announces Conviction In Felony Third Time Domestic Battery Case

August 25, 2016

Reno, Nevada

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks announced a conviction in a felony domestic battery case. The conviction marks the third felony domestic battery trial conviction this month for the District Attorney’s Office.  

Jeremy Marcel Chatman, 27, from Reno was found guilty on one count of Domestic Battery, Third or Subsequent Offense.  The trial began Monday, August 22, 2016 in Department 7 of District Court and concluded Tuesday evening. Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2016 in Department 7 of District Court and Chatman faces up to 5 years in prison.

The case against Chatman began April 23, 2016 when the Reno Police Department (RPD) responded to a domestic battery at a South Virginia Motel.  When officers arrived, they determined that Chatman and his girlfriend had been in an argument that turned violent when Chatman grabbed the victim by the neck, threw her and attempted to hit her. Seeing this, a male friend of the couple intervened and Chatman shifted his attack and began hitting him. Chatman fled prior to RPD’s arrival, but was quickly located and arrested for domestic battery.  This Office subsequently filed formal criminal charges against him and the case proceeded to trial.

During trial, Deputy District Attorney Zelalem Bogale presented evidence of the victim’s injuries and her initial statement to police.  The victim in the case was reluctant to testify, despite the fact that there was evidence documenting her injuries and an independent witness to the battery. In addition, the couple’s first child, who is an infant, was present for the battery in this case.

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office recently implemented an early intervention program for domestic violence cases. In commenting on this most recent conviction District Attorney Hicks stated, “All too often, domestic violence cases involve frightened, reluctant victims. This program is showing real success in both supporting victims of domestic abuse and holding their abusers accountable through successful prosecution.”