Burglary Prosecution

Guilty Verdict in Recent Trial

Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a recent multiple count burglary trial has ended in a guilty verdict. Nathanael Burton Smith, from Reno was found guilty of three counts of Burglary and two counts of Grand Larceny last Friday in Washoe County District Court. Smith was on probation at the time of the recent crimes for Burglary While in Possession of a Deadly Weapon and faces up to 45 years in prison for the current convictions.

Case Details:

On February 20, 2019, Reno Police Department (RPD) detectives began investigating commercial burglaries and grand larceny from the Peppermill Casino on South Virginia. Peppermill security officers had previously reported the theft of audio/video electronic equipment and tools. Follow-up investigation identified Smith as a suspect in the burglaries. Surveillance footage was used to identify vehicles Smith was using to steal the property and comparisons with social media accounts positively identified him as the suspect. Smith was arrested and a subsequent search warrant located some of the stolen items inside Smith’s motorhome. This office filed formal criminal charges and the case proceeded to trial.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Nicolas Zicari argued that Smith went into the Peppermill Casino on three different occasions, drilled out a lock to gain access to an Audio/Video storage room, and stole more than $29,000.00 worth of electronic equipment and power tools.