Robbery Conviction

District Attorney Announces Newest Habitual Criminal Sentencing

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office secured a recent habitual criminal sentence following a Carson City man’s conviction for robbery.  The man pled guilty earlier this year and was sentenced last Wednesday to a maximum term of life in prison.  The sentence ensures that the man, whose history contains multiple felony convictions, will serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Keith Leonard Turner Sr. 57 from Carson City was sentenced on one count of Robbery last Wednesday in Washoe County District Court by the Honorable Judge Patrick Flanagan.  Turner pled guilty in August, 2016 and Deputy District Attorney Erica Jackson subsequently filed a notice of intent to seek habitual criminal status based on the defendant’s lengthy criminal history spanning 40 years. 

The investigation into the case against Turner began on May 11, 2016.  On that date, the Sparks Police Department (SPD) responded to a report of a robbery that had just occurred in Downtown Sparks.  A female victim reported she had been robbed of her purse and rental car by a male suspect later identified as Turner.  The woman reported Turner was armed with a Taser style device, which caused her to fear for her safety.  Sparks officers were able to quickly locate the rental car in the parking lot of a downtown Reno casino by working with the company’s security officers and tracking the use of the victim’s credit cards.  A short time later Turner was taken into custody after he was seen getting into the stolen car.  When Turner was searched, officers found the Taser, a ski mask and items belonging to the victim, including the rental car keys.

The Northern Nevada Repeat Offender Program (ROP) conducted an extensive investigation into Turner based on his known history as a repeat offender in this community.  ROP detectives routinely focus on arresting habitual criminals and work closely with this office to bring these offenders to justice.  In commenting on this most recent habitual criminal sentencing, District Attorney Chris Hicks said, “My office will continue to seek lengthy prison sentences against career criminals who prove time and again they are willing to victimize those in our community”.