WCDA Prosecution Outcome

Christmas Eve Sexual Assault Results In Life Sentence

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that a local man has been sentenced to life in prison after having been convicted of sexual assault. The victim in the case was attacked on Christmas Eve, 2015 while working alone in a Reno restaurant. The sentence ensures the defendant will serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before parole eligibility begins. In commenting on the sentence, District Attorney Chris Hicks said, “sexual assault remains a significant threat to the safety of our community, particularly young women. Holding offenders accountable remains a top priority with my office and we will continue to seek justice for victims, as well as work to further awareness and prevent future instances of these heinous crimes.”   

Chad Anthony Phillips, 29, was sentenced on December 12, 2017, on one count of Sexual Assault to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years has been served. Phillips pled guilty in September to having sexually assaulted a 34 year old Reno woman in a North Reno sandwich shop. The victim was working alone in the store when Phillips came inside, claimed to have a knife and forced the woman to perform sexual acts. When Phillips left the store, the victim was able to call 911 and relay a description of her attacker. Reno Police Department (RPD) patrol officers responded and were able to quickly locate Phillips based off the dispatched description. RPD detectives also responded and based on their investigation and physical evidence gathered at the scene, Phillips was arrested. The case was submitted to this office and criminal charges were filed.

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Travis Lucia argued that a life sentence was fitting for the Defendant’s crime. Specifically, DDA Lucia pointed out that the Defendant’s acts were abhorrent, and made even more reprehensible given that the crime was committed on Christmas Eve, turning what is ordinarily a time of joy into a terrible anniversary of his heinous conduct.