Man sentenced to 28 years

Guilty of attacking a neighbor with a machete

A Reno man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison, with eligibility for parole in 11 years. Kenneth Pinney was previously found guilty of Home Invasion with a Deadly Weapon, Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Residential Burglary with a Deadly Weapon.

In March of last year, a 61-year-old man arrived at the Reno Police Department main station and told officers that his neighbor, Pinney, had attacked him with a machete. The victim had several injuries to his hands, arms, and torso that were consistent with coming from an edged weapon. The victim told police that he had been having issues with Pinney for some time, including the fact that the defendant brings the victim’s cat into his own apartment and feeds it dog food. The man informed RDP that earlier that day, he confronted Pinney again about his cat and Pinney followed the victim into his apartment, yelling. During the investigation, it was discovered that the defendant then returned to his own apartment, grabbed the machete, and returned to the victim’s home where he broke down the front door and then slashed the other man several times.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Richard Haas highlighted the violent nature of the crime, including the fact that Pinney attacked the victim with such force that his front door was knocked off its hinges. DDA Haas also noted that Pinney returned to the victim’s apartment multiple times to attack the victim.  

The Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence.