From the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office:
A man who engaged in an armed standoff with Reno Police, Sparks Police, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has been convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Silencer, and Resisting, Obstructing, and/or Delaying Public Officers with Use of a Firearm.
Thomas Balboni Jr. (DOB 6/11/80) is a Tier III sex offender who has been out of compliance with registering since 2019. In July 2021, a Secret Witness tip was submitted regarding Balboni’s whereabouts. Officers with Parole and Probation and the Regional Sex Offender Unit began investigating and conducting surveillance of Balboni. In August 2021, detectives with the Repeat Offender Program and RPD SWAT located Balboni at a home where a child was present. After waiting for the child to leave for school, police attempted to arrest Balboni and execute a search warrant. Despite officers’ multiple commands ordering him to surrender, the defendant refused to leave the home’s garage.
During trial, Deputy District Attorney Alfa Alemayehu argued that Balboni was told at least twenty times to surrender. A standoff began with Balboni arming himself with an operable AR-15 style rifle loaded with approximately 80 bullets. Hours after, he eventually left the garage and was arrested. Officers discovered a silencer in Balboni’s possession, as well as ammunition, magazines, and multiple operable firearms. Sentencing is set for April 20th. Balboni faces a maximum sentence of 76 months to 16 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections.
