Reno Man Sentenced as Habitual Criminal

District Attorney Announces Result in Drug Trafficking Prosecution of Repeat Offender

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that a Reno man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison as a habitual offender.  The sentence ensures that a minimum of 8 years will be served before parole eligibility begins.

Jaffar Richardson 45, from Reno was sentenced last Thursday on one count of Trafficking of a Controlled Substance (level 2) in Washoe County District Court by the Honorable Judge Janet Berry.  Richardson previously pled guilty in February of this year.  Based on Richardson’s extensive criminal history, this office filed notice of intent to seek habitual criminal status for sentencing.  Richardson has a criminal history that spans over 25 years and includes seven (7) prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, drug possession, DUI, conspiracy to commit robbery and firearm charges. 

Richardson was arrested by the Reno Police Department (RPD) in April, 2016 after being contacted by officers who were responding to a report of a suicidal subject in downtown Reno. Officers were dispatched to locate an unidentified male who had called 911 by cell phone and reported he was suicidal.  Responding officers saw Richardson walking in the area of the original call talking on a cell phone.  As a result, officers stopped to talk to Richardson to determine if he was the subject they were looking for.  When they did, Richardson threw a small plastic bag into a nearby parking lot and tried to run away.  He was quickly caught and the bag was located.  Subsequent testing determined the bag contained 14 grams of methamphetamine. Richardson was arrested and ultimately charged by this office.

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Darcy Cameron argued that Richardson was the epitome of a habitual criminal.  Despite numerous opportunities at treatment and leniency since his first felony, which was committed when he was 19 years old, he has continued to relentlessly engage in criminal activity.