First Degree Murder Sentencing

WCDA Secures Life Sentence Against Defendant Convicted of 2021 Murder

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that Ladonn Lee, age 30 from Stockton, California, has been sentenced to a prison term of life without the possibility of parole after having been found guilty of 1^st Degree Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon following a two-week jury trial in September.  Lee was also sentenced by District Court Judge Scott Freeman to an additional term of 8 to 20 years for a deadly weapon enhancement in the murder case and an additional term of 28 to 72 months in prison for a felony Battery by a Prisoner on an Officer case, where he was charged after the conviction and while awaiting sentencing.

Lee was convicted of the December 6, 2021 murder of Taylor Dickins, age 29 from Reno, who was shot to death in his vehicle during the early morning hours in West Reno.  On that date, Reno Police Department (RPD) patrol officers responded to a report of a deceased person found in a running vehicle in the area of Commercial Row and West Street.   When officers arrived, they located the deceased victim and RPD Robbery Homicide Detectives were called to the scene to investigate.  Upon review of surveillance footage from the area and analysis of cellular phone data, detectives were able to identify Lee as the suspect who shot the victim during a drug transaction.  Lee, who had fled the state, was located several days later in Salt Lake City, Utah and extradited back to Washoe County where he was charged with First Degree Murder and later convicted at trial. 

At the sentencing hearing, Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Nate MacLellan argued for life imprisonment without the possibility of parole because this was a cold, calculated execution for nothing, as there were multiple items of value left in the car, inclusive of envelopes of cash.  This showed a glimpse into the mind of Ladonn Lee and that he took Taylor Dickins life for nothing more than his own enjoyment. This is a man with no redeemable qualities and if given the opportunity, he will kill again.  It is our responsibility to ensure that he never again has that opportunity in our community.