Tyler Stokes (dob 11/26/04) and Kale Krigbaum (dob 6/22/01) have been sentenced to 6-15 years for Attempted Murder and a consecutive 2-6 years for Battery on a Prisoner.
Both defendants were arrested in connection to an attack at a park in downtown Reno back in December of 2022. Officers with the Reno Police Department initially responded following a report of a battery, where they found the 18-year-old victim severely beaten and bleeding from multiple injuries. The victim was taken to a local hospital and unable to breath without a breathing tube. The victim had multiple abrasions on his face and a badly swollen ear. Additionally, doctors determined the victim had two brain bleeds and was in critical condition. The victim remained in a coma for several months and doctors advised that he would have cognitive disabilities for the rest of his life.
RPD officers learned that the victim had been a resident of the Eddy House and that Stokes and Krigbaum had attempted to assault him the month prior. Two weeks after the initial fight, Stokes contacted the man, offering to house the victim’s dog. The victim, believing they had reconciled, agreed and the men planned to meet. Video surveillance from downtown Reno showed that on December 19th, Stokes and Krigbaum put masks over their faces and proceeded to stalk the victim until he reached Brick Park. There, the defendants began beating the victim and attempted to stab him. Stokes was arrested 10 days later by RPD. Krigbaum was arrested later, following a tip to Secret Witness that he was attempting to flee Nevada.
Deputy District Attorney Aziz Merchant represented the State in this case and argued that the severity of the injuries inflicted by these two defendants deserved swift and severe punishment. DDA Merchant also pointed out that while pending sentencing for attempted murder, both defendants had battered other inmates while awaiting sentencing at the Washoe County Jail. Merchant argued that this was further evidence of these two defendants’ propensity for violence and the need for a long prison sentence for both defendants. The Honorable David Hardy presided and imposed the sentence.
A recording of the press release for media can be heard below. Mug shots can be found on the WCDA Facebook and Twitter accounts.
