A jury has convicted Dean Carter (dob 7/25/77) of Home Invasion and Residential Burglary. The defendant had broken into a home in the middle of the day in Lemmon Valley and had begun stealing items when the homeowner, who was home at the time, ran to a neighbor’s and called police.
The woman told officers she had been taking a shower when she heard glass breaking. When she looked out her bedroom sliding glass door, she saw Carter in her kitchen carrying the victims’ items out of the house. When Reno Police officers arrived, they found that the sliding glass door in the kitchen was ajar and a nearby window had been shattered. Officers determined that Carter had entered by breaking the window before going into various rooms in the house and exiting out the sliding glass door. A search of the home revealed several items were missing, including passports, purses, unique shoes, a personalized hat, and jewelry. Officers’ investigation also revealed that some of the homeowner’s outdoor items had also been staged next to a fence. A neighbor’s video surveillance captured Carter arriving on a distinct moped via an access road behind the victim’s home and then leaving with a bag on his lap.
The following day, officers found Carter driving the same moped in downtown Reno. During the traffic stop, officers noticed that Carter was wearing the same personalized hat that had been stolen from the victims’ residence the day before. They also found that he was wearing one of the victim’s necklaces, along with their distinct shoes and belt that were also reported missing. A search of Carter’s home found more of the victims’ stolen items.
The State was represented by DDA Rachael Chesterfield. Sentencing is set for May 6th before the Honorable Lynne Jones. Carter faces up to 8-20 years in prison.
