Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit apprehends wanted person in Reno

On November 14, 2022, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) was granted a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Jovani Galindo-Hernandez.

On November 16, 2022, LVMPD contacted the Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit (RSONU) for assistance in locating Galindo-Hernandez.

RSONU Detectives immediately began conducting surveillance and searching for Galindo-Hernandez.

On November 21, 2022, RSONU Detectives located and arrested Jovani Galindo-Hernandez near the 600 block of Spice Island Drive in Sparks, Nevada.

Galindo-Hernandez was wanted for the charges of:

• 1 Count of Kidnapping 1^st Degree Felony.
• 3 Counts of Sexual Assault a Felony.

The RSONU was formed in 1998 to be compliant with federal law passed in 1997.  At that time Washoe County, the City of Sparks and the City of Reno all agreed there was a need for coordination in law enforcement in the tracking, monitoring, investigation, public notification, and the arrest and prosecution of non-compliant sex offenders.  The Nevada State Police Parole and Probation joined RSONU in 2021. The RSONU operates as a regional, multi-jurisdictional and collaborative entity to carry out the requirements of community notifications as set forth in Chapter 179D of the Nevada Revised Statutes.  The RSONU’s jurisdictional boundaries encompass all of Washoe County, including the Cities of Reno and Sparks.

In addition to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office investigator, investigators from RPD and SPD are sworn in as Deputies with the WCSO in partnership to carry out the mission of the Unit. The WCSO also provides an Administrative Office Support Specialist to help with clerical functions.

Currently, there are about 1400 registered sex offenders in the Reno, Sparks and Washoe County area.  These offenders are monitored by investigators from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and Parole and Probation.

The RSONU is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm, excluding holidays, and can be reached at 775-325-6483.

Jovani Galindo-Hernandez

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

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