Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

PR #: 1600007
Date Issued: Jan 29, 2016 - 5:25pm

Washoe County Sheriff's Office arrests two men for staged robbery of Sun Valley 7-Eleven

CONTACT: Bob Harmon
Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Office 775-785-6235
Cell 775-722-5517

Two men are now in custody for staging an armed robbery of the Sun Valley 7-Eleven store. The arrests follow an investigation by Washoe County Sheriff's Office Detectives that was aided by tips from Secret Witness.

John Paul Alvarez, age 34, and Scott Jacob Ibbotson, age 25, both of Sun Valley, were booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on Friday, January 29, 2016 on multiple charges related to the robbery. Ibbotson, currently an ex-employee of the 7-Eleven was working on the night the incident occurred.

At approximately 3:20 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016, Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 7-Eleven located on the 5700 block of Sun Valley Boulevard on a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred. Approximately $13,000 in merchandize had been reported stolen.

Later that day, Sheriff's Office detectives investigating the incident released information about the suspect and suspect vehicle in the hopes of generating information from the public. Thanks to valuable leads from Secret Witness, detectives were able to determine that Ibbotson and Alvarez, who played the role of the "armed robber," were working together.

After investigators established probable cause to arrest Ibbotson and Alvarez, deputies with Sheriff's Office Patrol Division were able to locate both suspects and take them into custody without incident.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information that could prove useful to detectives is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.


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.

###