August 15, 2016

Reno, Nevada 

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announces that a Reno man has been found guilty on felony battery charges after a recent District Court trial.  The man faces up to 18 years in prison and will be sentenced later this year.

Nathan Alan Meaders, 33, was found guilty last week on three counts of Battery by a Prisoner, a felony.  The trial against Meaders began last Monday, August 8, 2016 and ended Thursday with the jury deliberating less than an hour before reaching a verdict. 

Meaders were arrested for disturbing the peace in April, 2016 and booked into the Washoe County Detention Center.  Shortly after being booked, Meaders was being moved to a different holding cell when he attacked a Sheriff’s Office deputy. During the attack, Meaders struck the deputy in the face and grabbed his holstered Taser. The Taser was not used, but it was damaged in the struggle that followed. In another incident that took place three months later, Meaders struck two different deputies in the head. The first deputy was attacked when attempting to retrieve a meal tray Meaders was refusing to give back. The second deputy was struck by Meaders as he was being taken into custody for the battery he had just committed. All three deputies involved in the incidents received minor injuries. 

During trial, Prosecutor Michael Bolenbaker presented evidence of the injuries from the attacks including, scratches, bruises and minor lacerations. The damaged Taser was shown to the jury to demonstrate the force Meaders used when grabbing it. 

Sentencing in the case is set for October 5, 2016 and Meaders faces between 1 to 6 years in prison for each of the three counts.