The Reno man who fled the area while the jury was deliberating his case, has been sentenced to life in prison. Reginald (Reggie) Ellis had been found guilty of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Minor and one count of Child Abuse last September but absconded before the verdict could be given.

The Regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit worked in partnership with the US Marshals to find Ellis, eventually locating him in Las Vegas in November, with the help of Las Vegas Metro Police. He was subsequently brought back to Washoe County, where he was sentenced earlier today.

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Darcy Cameron argued for a life sentence with parole eligibility after 17.5 years, citing the defendant’s violent prior criminal history and the lifelong trauma that he inflicted upon his young victims. The Honorable Connie Steinheimer imposed the life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years, running the sentence for child abuse concurrent to the two sex trafficking counts.