Hicks Released Under Supervision Ahead of April Sentencing

Taylon Jeffery Hicks, in custody, appeared in Tenth Judicial District Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, before Judge Thomas Stockard. Hicks pleaded guilty to a Gross Misdemeanor charge of Open or Gross Lewdness, which is punishable by up to 364 days in the Churchill County jail, a fine of up to $2,000 and requires registration as a sex offender. The offense is probation-eligible only if Hicks obtains a Risk Assessment and is not found to be at risk of reoffending.

The charge originated in Justice Court after an arrest warrant was issued last November. The Justice Court Criminal Complaint initially charged Hicks with Category D Felony Open or Gross Lewdness, alleging that on Oct. 3, 2024, at or near Schurz Highway, he inappropriately grabbed a female victim and engaged in other lewd conduct. The complaint also stated that Hicks had been convicted of the same charge on Feb. 27, 2024, in Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County.

Hicks was arrested on the lewdness charge and taken into custody on Jan. 29. Upon his arraignment, Justice Court Judge Ben Trotter appointed Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer to represent him before transferring the case to District Court, where the charge was later reduced to a Gross Misdemeanor.

During the Feb. 18 hearing, a factual basis was presented stating that Hicks exposed himself in front of an adult woman and allegedly grabbed her breast without consent.

In addition to this case, Hicks has a Reno Justice Court case for Home Invasion Domestic Violence. He was also sentenced in Washoe County in 2020 to 24-72 months in prison for Coercion with Force or Threat of Physical Force. He was released in April 2022, with his probation expiring on Jan. 8, 2024.

Sommer requested that Hicks be granted an OR release under Court Services Supervision while awaiting completion of the Risk Assessment. The state did not object, provided Hicks has no contact with the victim named in the complaint.

Judge Stockard granted Hicks an OR release with conditions, including daily check-ins and random testing with Court Services, no new criminal violations, and no contact with the victim. He also ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) and scheduled sentencing for Apr. 22.