Two brothers have been sentenced after attacking a man and yelling derogatory and homophobic slurs at the victim. Ramiro Arellano-Montes (dob 6/18/84) was sentenced to 5 years in prison with parole eligibility after 2 years (the maximum under the law), while Victor Arellano (dob 5/14/87) was given 4 years in prison with parole eligibility after 15 months. Both men had pled guilty to Battery Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm.

The victim and two others were walking in downtown Reno on West St. between 1^st and 2^nd Streets in September of last year, when they encountered another group of people, including the two defendants. The defendants began making homophobic comments towards the victim and other members of his group, prompting an argument, which turned into a fight. Security footage from nearby buildings, as well as cellphone video, showed Victor running towards the victim’s group and punching an individual in the face. At that point, the victim ran towards his friend to help him, when the brothers began hitting and kicking the victim. The defendants continued to kick the victim in the head, face, and body once he was on the ground, before running away when bystanders began to approach and intervene.

The victim lost consciousness during the attack and suffered a severe nose fracture with displacement of the nasal bone fragments, causing a septal hematoma. He also incurred an orbital floor fracture with displacement of fractured bone fragments into the sinus.

Officers with the Reno Police Department worked with the victim and his friends who witnessed the attack to identify the two defendants through social media. The brothers were subsequently arrested approximately four days after the attack. At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Hannah Martinez called attention to the victim’s serious injuries, each defendant’s respective criminal history, and the violent facts of this case, highlighting the continued escalation while the victim was unconscious on the ground. In consideration of those aggravating factors, DDA Martinez argued for 4 years in prison for Victor Arellano, with parole eligibility after 19 months. As to Ramiro Arellano-Montes, she argued for 5 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 19 months. The Honorable David Hardy presided and imposed the sentence.

Audio of Arellano brothers release

Ramiro Arellano-Montes

Victor Arellano