Sentencing Update in Attempted Murder Case

40 Year Sentence Secured in Machete Attack Case

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a Reno man convicted of attempted murder involving the use of a machete has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. The defendant was sentenced Wednesday after a jury found him guilty in April of having used a machete to hack his male roommate multiple times during a December, 2016 domestic dispute. The sentence ensures a minimum of 16 years must be served before parole eligibility begins.   

***Original Release Information ***

Celestin Glenn Tappin,46, from Reno was found guilty Thursday, April 27, 2017 on one count of Battery with the Use of a Deadly Weapon Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm, one count of Mayhem with the Use of a Deadly Weapon and one count of Attempted Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon.

On December 22, 2016 the Reno Police Department responded to a report of a domestic dispute in the area of Stewart Street in Reno. Once there, they met with Tappin and his parents who reported that Tappin had appeared at their house intoxicated, talking about a murder at his Thoma Street home.  Additional officers responded to the Thoma street address and located Tappin’s 51 year old male roommate, who was bleeding severely from numerous lacerations.  The victim was transported to the hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Based on their investigation, responding officers were able to determine that Tappin and the victim were in their home when they got into an argument and Tappin attacked. Tappin was arrested a short time later and this office filed criminal charges against him.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Travis Lucia provided the jury with forensic evidence showing that the Defendant’s DNA was on the handle of a machete located near the victim’s body.  Similar testing revealed that the victim’s DNA was on the blade of the weapon, which caused his severe injuries.