Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

Defendant Fled on Last Day of Trial, Warrant Was Issued

A Washoe County man who fled the state during his trial, in which the jury ultimately found him guilty of Domestic Battery Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm, was found in Oregon and has subsequently been sentenced. 48-year-old Michael Frison was sentenced to 6 years in prison with eligibility for parole in 2 years. 

On July 29, 2021, Sparks Police Department (SPD) officers responded to a local motel on the report of an assault and battery. When law enforcement arrived, they found Frison’s then-girlfriend suffering from several injuries, including a broken jaw and other head trauma that required emergency surgery.  During the investigation, police were able to confirm Frison was the attacker. At the time of the incident, Frison had a non-extraditable felony warrant out of Santa Ana County for Fugitive from Justice and had a history of assault and domestic battery.

Deputy District Attorney Stephan Hollandsworth prosecuted the case on behalf of the State. Upon Frison being found guilty in April, the Honorable Judge Kathleen Sigurdson issued a felony bench warrant for his arrest. The U.S. Marshals Service located Frison in June, and he was extradited back to Reno to face sentencing.