DA Announces Newest Habitual Criminal Sentencing

Conviction In Burglary Case Results in 24 Year Prison Term

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured a 24 year sentence against a habitual criminal following a conviction for burglary. The sentence ensures that the defendant, who has a long history of felony convictions, will serve a minimum of 10½ years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Christopher Paul Lyons, 37, from Reno was sentenced on one count of Burglary last Friday in District Court.  Lyons had pled guilty in October, 2016 to the charge and this Office filed a notice of intent to seek habitual criminal status based on a criminal history that spanned over 19 years and included such offenses as burglary, possession of stolen vehicles and property, as well as drug offenses. A codefendant also pled guilty in the case and was sentenced to 5 years, suspended and granted probation by the court.

The investigation into Lyons began in June, 2016 when Washoe County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a residential burglary.  The homeowner reported that he had returned home and found his property ransacked and a number of guns and hunting items missing. Information from surveillance cameras at the scene led to two suspects and detectives with the Northern Nevada Repeat Offender Program took charge of the investigation.  Lyons and his 20 year old nephew (Jeffery Allen Lyons, dob 5/2/96 from Sparks) were ultimately arrested for the crime and this office filed formal criminal charges against them.  The victim’s property was never recovered.

At sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin Erickson argued that within weeks or months, sometimes even days of Lyons being released on parole, he would commit new criminal offenses. She added that Lyons has continuously victimized this community and the only time he is not committing crimes is when he is locked up.   

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office works closely with the Northern Nevada Repeat Offender Program on cases involving habitual criminals. Prosecutors and detectives work to bring these offenders to justice and pursue long prison sentences to ensure the community’s safety.