Conviction Secured in First District Court Trial Since Covid-19 Restrictions

Successful Prosecution Against Defendant Found Guilty on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured a guilty verdict in the first jury trial to take place since Covid-19 safety restrictions were imposed in late March that suspended all in-person criminal cases set in Washoe County District Court. Jason Marcus Jones, age 41 from Reno was found guilty last Wednesday on one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, one count of Possession of a Trafficking Quantity of a Controlled Substance and two Counts of Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The 3-day jury trial began last Monday in Department 4 of Washoe County District Court and was presided over by the Honorable Judge Connie Steinheimer. Jones will be sentenced on November 10, 2020 and faces up to 22 years in prison.

After the trial, District Attorney Chris Hicks said, “The health and safety measures put in place allowed this trial to go forward and I would like to thank the Court for its diligent work in today’s challenging environment. Additionally, it is important to thank the jury for their attention and willingness to serve as jurors.”

The case against Jones began in May 2019 when detectives with the Regional Crime Suppression Unit comprised of officers from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments received information that he was in possession of firearms. An investigation was conducted and Jones was ultimately arrested for being an ex-felon in possession of firearms and drug related charges connected to sales and trafficking of methamphetamine.

At trial Chief Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Kelly Kossow described to the jury how the Regional Crime Suppression Unit conducted proactive policing by forming a relationship with the defendant which led to the illegal sale of two firearms and a trafficking quantity of methamphetamine. In addition, DDA Kossow presented audio recordings of the transactions to the jury, which clearly implicated Jones in the sales.