WCDA Secures Sentencings, Guilty Verdict

Provides Updates on Four Trials

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has secured a guilty verdict in a murder trial, as well as sentencings in an attempted murder case, arson case, and drug trafficking case.

A 5-day jury trial has ended with Ray McBride (dob 6/22/89) being found guilty of 1^st Degree Murder. In January of 2023, officers with the Reno Police Department were called to Wedekind Road following reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the body of Michael White in one room, with three children also in the home. During the investigation, it was discovered that the mother of some of the children in the home was in a romantic relationship with McBride and she was pregnant with his child. Law enforcement also determined that White was a friend of the woman’s and that he was visiting her in the home when he was shot 3 times by the defendant. Sentencing is set for February 7, 2024.

Oneil Thomas has been sentenced to a combined total of 55 years in prison, with parole eligibility in 22 years. Thomas was previously found guilty of 7 charges, including Attempted Murder with a Deadly Weapon. He was charged in connection to separate shooting and armed robbery incidents in Sparks back in December of 2022. The Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence.

The Joy Lake arsonist has been sentenced to 45 years in prison, with parole eligibility in 14 years. Matthew Kimmens had been found guilty of starting two wildfires on Joy Lake Road in 2022, which resulted in the destruction of one home and damage to two others. Kimmens has also been ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to the victims of the fire, as well as more than $200,000 in fire suppression and investigation costs. The Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence. 

The WCDA would like to extend our most sincere thanks for the men and women of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and many other local agencies for their extraordinary efforts that stopped this tragedy from becoming far worse.

Juan Galban-Cruz has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for cocaine trafficking, with parole eligibility after 5 years. The sentence is to be served consecutively to the 5-20 year prison term he was already serving for a prior drug trafficking case. In April of 2023, Galban-Cruz and a woman were pulled over by a Washoe County Sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation. While speaking with the pair, the deputy observed the defendant showing nervous behavior and inconsistent travel plans between the two. A K9 was deployed for a free air sniff and alerted law enforcement to the presence of drugs. During a search of the car, more than 2.5 pounds of cocaine were found. The Honorable Judge Scott Freeman presided and imposed the sentence.