Repeat Offender Found Guilty

Defendant Charged with Grand Larceny and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle

A Sparks man has been found guilty of Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle and Possess, Receive, or Transfer a Stolen Vehicle.

54-year-old Leon Vantilburg was arrested by Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies back in November of last year, after he was caught driving a truck that had been stolen the night before from Reno Rock Transport. Deputies were told the single cab Chevy had a tracker and that the truck was driving on Golden Valley Road, just after 3 in the morning on November 7^th, 2022. Deputies were able to initiate a traffic stop, where Vantilburg and a passenger were arrested.

At the sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Jenna Garcia will be asking the court to adjudicate Vantilburg as a habitual criminal due to the fact that he has at least seven prior felony convictions, including battery with a deadly weapon, burglary, and theft charges. Additionally, DDA Garcia will touch on how the span of the convictions, from 1986 through 2014, shows the continuing course of conduct that the habitual criminal statute is intended for.

The Honorable Judge Freeman presided over the trial. Sentencing is set for July 24^th.