Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks announces that Jacob Cooper (dob 2/21/82) has been convicted of 12 counts, following an 8-day jury trial. He was found guilty of three counts of Residential Burglary with a Firearm, three counts of Residential Burglary, two counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count of Possessing Burglary Tools, and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Cooper faces more than 100 years in prison. The codefendant, Aisha Bailey, previously pled guilty to all charges filed against her.
Between December of 2022 and February of 2023, Cooper and Bailey committed a string of six residential burglaries throughout Washoe County, where they burglarized the victims’ homes and stole guns, cash, jewelry, electronics, sports memorabilia, and other valuable items estimated at more than $60,000.
“Residential Burglaries are a deeply unsettling experience for crime victims,” said DA Chris Hicks. “Criminals like Cooper and Bailey not only take an individual’s property, but they steal the sense of safety we should all be able to feel in our homes. We look forward to seeking significant prison sentences and commend the jury for holding the defendant accountable for the crimes he committed.”
During the course of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office’s (WCSO) investigation, a Sparks Police Department officer, who was on routine patrol, located a white Toyota Camry with stolen plates near the Nugget Casino. Cooper was found with the car and was subsequently arrested for running from officers when they went to talk to him about the stolen license plates. Following the arrest, an SPD officer’s K9 alerted to narcotics in Cooper’s vehicle, where they located methamphetamine and a revolver that had been reported stolen from one of the residential burglaries inside the car. Detectives from the WCSO Criminal Investigations Unit took over and conducted searches of the defendant’s car, hotel room, and storage unit where they recovered additional stolen items from the six burglaries. The detectives located guns, jewelry, property, personal items, and cash belonging to the victims.
While presenting the case at trial, Deputy District Attorney Jeff Hoppe spoke about Cooper’s on-going conspiracy with his accomplice to find homes whose owners were out of town in order to steal items, including numerous firearms, that could later be sold for money and drugs.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and Regional Crime Suppression Unit all participated in the investigation. Sentencing is set for November 18th before the Honorable Judge Barry Breslow.
A recording of the press release for media can be heard below.
