A man that robbed a clerk at a local vape store at gunpoint has been sentenced to an aggregate 42 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 17 years.  Penisimano Taunaholo (dob 9/12/93) was previously found guilty by a Washoe County Jury of Robbery with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, Assault with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm during a four-day jury trial.  

The case against Taunaholo began in January of 2023, when Sparks Police officers were called to a vape shop on G Street after an employee said he had been robbed at gunpoint. The victim told police that a masked man, later identified as the defendant, came into the shop holding a small silver gun and that after demanding money, fled out of the store.

Officers were able to find Taunaholo at a home about half a mile away and connect him to the robbery thanks to video from the store showing his car with identifying features and damage. The video also displayed Taunaholo’ s very distinct limp.  Additionally, Officers were able to identify his clothing and shoes from the video, and later found some of the items in the home and on his person when he was arrested.  With the assistance of the Washoe County Crime Lab Taunaholo’ s DNA was found on the firearm used in the robbery, as well as the sweatpants that were worn during the robbery.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Dominguez argued that the max sentence on the robbery and habitual criminal adjudication for Taunaholo was warranted based on his lengthy felony criminal history and the danger he poses to the community.   The Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson sentenced the defendant to 6-15 years with a consecutive weapons enhancement of 6-15 years for count I, a consecutive 5-12.5 years with the Habitual Criminal adjudication for count II, and a concurrent 19-48 months for count III.