City Attorney Wes Duncan Announces Domestic Battery, Harassment, and Violating a Temporary Restraining Order Convictions Stemming from 2 Incidents Involving the Same Victim

The Sparks City Attorney's Office has announced that Joseph Carlo Yanga has been convicted of one count of Domestic Battery, one count of Harassment, and one count of Violating a Temporary Restraining Order stemming from two separate incidents. Both incidents were committed against the same victim with the first occurring on March 16, 2024, and the second occurring on April 8, 2024.

On March 16, 2024, Sparks Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance called in by the victim who indicated her ex-boyfriend, slapped the phone out of her hand and threatened to kill the dog belonging to their children in common. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim and found out that the Defendant had become enraged, and started threatening the victim, which prompted her to start recording him. Officers reviewed a video which showed the Defendant tell the victim that she was going to die as he slapped the phone from her hand, slapping her arm in the process. Officers were informed that the couple's three minor children were in the home during this incident and either observed and/or heard the incident. As a result, the Defendant was arrested, and the victim obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against the Defendant.

On April 8, 2024, at 1:57am, Sparks Police Department responded to the victim's residence after dispatch was informed by the victim that the Defendant was outside of her front door in violation of the Temporary Restraining Order. Upon arrival, Officers found the victim to be visibly shaken and scared. The victim informed officers that she had observed the Defendant knocking on her door and tapping on their daughter's window while wearing a black ski mask. Further, officers reviewed text messages where the Defendant indicated he wanted the victim to give him money and was coming over to get it, despite the Temporary Restraining Order and no indication from the victim that she had offered him any money nor any indication that she had invited him over. Other text messages reviewed by officers indicated that during the incident the Defendant had told the victim to call the police, that he would not go peacefully, and that he was at the residence near the time the victim heard the Defendant knock on a window. While officers were attempting to locate the Defendant and make contact, the victim informed officers that the Defendant had called her and told officers the Defendant was carrying a firearm and had made additional threats tending to indicate that the Defendant was attempting suicide by cop. Officers made multiple attempts to locate and contact the Defendant that day but were ultimately unsuccessful. On April 9, 2024, officers were able to arrest the Defendant without incident.

On April 17, 2024, Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Sparks, Ana Swanson, secured convictions for Domestic Battery, Harassment, and Violating a Temporary Restraining Order against the Defendant stemming from each incident against the same victim.

As result of the Domestic Battery and Harassment convictions stemming from the incident on March 16, 2024, the Defendant was sentenced as follows:

The Defendant will serve 180 days in the Washoe County Jail on each count suspended for two years to be run concurrently with each other, on the conditions that he be placed on formal probation with the court to include regular testing for drugs and alcohol, spend 2 active days in jail, complete 48 hours of community service, pay a $200 fine plus administrative assessments, pay a $35 domestic violence fee, complete 26 weeks of domestic violence classes, complete a parenting class addressing the effects of violence in the home, that he have no contact with the victim pursuant to the restraining order, and that he obey all laws.

As a result of the Violation of the Temporary Restraining Order conviction stemming from the incident on April 8, 2024, the Defendant was sentenced as follows:

The Defendant will serve 180 days in the Washoe County Jail suspended for two years to be run consecutive to the above case resulting in an aggregate sentence of one year of Washoe County Jail suspended, on the conditions that he have no contact with the victim pursuant to the restraining order and that he obey all laws.