Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrest man for child abuse

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies have arrested Richard Pacheco, 37, of Lemmon Valley on three felony counts stemming from an incident the night of February 27, 2022.

Deputies were originally called around 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening to perform a welfare check at a residence in the 8900 block of Limnol Street in Lemmon Valley. The caller believed her two family members, a woman and her 13-year-old daughter, were being prevented from leaving the home.

As deputies were arriving in the area, they made contact with both the mother and daughter at a location away from the residence. Both were visibly emotional. In the course of conversation, the mother told deputies Pacheco was firing his weapon within the home. During this time, deputies heard multiple gunshots coming from the area of the residence in question. Washoe County Dispatch also received multiple calls from neighbors reporting the sound of gunshots.

Additional deputies, with the assistance of Reno Police Officers and Nevada State Police – Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers began immediate response to Limnol Street. As they were arriving, Reno Police Officers located and detained a man fleeing the area on foot who matched Pacheco’s description. A second man, considered a witness, was inside the home and voluntarily exited to speak with deputies.

During a safety sweep of the residence – deputies found a semi-automatic handgun as well as multiple bullet holes in the 13-year-old’s bedroom. Two of those bullet holes went through the exterior wall of the house.

Since Pacheco has a prior domestic battery conviction – he is charged with one felony count of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, one felony count of Discharging a Firearm from Within a Structure, and one felony count of Child Abuse.

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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