Guilty Verdict Secured

Defendant Convicted in WCDA Prosecution of Child Abuse Charges

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a child abuse prosecution has resulted in a guilty verdict. The defendant, Harlan Zachary Iske, 31, was charged with one count of Felony Child Abuse and was found guilty late Wednesday evening in District Court after a three-day trial. The charges stem from a May, 2018 incident involving the abuse of a 3 year old child. Sentencing is set for May 29, 2019 and Iske faces up to 6 years in prison.

The case against Iske began on May 22, 2018 when the Reno Police Department (RPD) responded to a local elementary school on a report of child abuse. When patrol officers arrived they learned from school staff that a 3 year old female preschool student had arrived at school that day with an obvious injury to the left side of her face. After further investigation, RPD determined that the child had hand-shaped red and bruised marks on her face, inner ear and buttocks area. Interviews with the child’s parents and grandmother identified Iske as the suspect of the abuse. Iske was arrested and this office filed formal criminal charges against him. Iske ultimately pled not guilty and the case proceeded to trial.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Brittany Bishop presented evidence that Iske was angry with his young daughter for getting into her grandmother’s jewelry, and with an open hand he slapped her across the left side of her face. DDA Bishop argued that Iske’s actions were excessive and took advantage of his young daughter’s vulnerability.