Ranchos shooter due in Douglas district court next week

The man accused of murdering two Gardnerville Ranchos women in their homes is expected to face his first hearing on Tuesday, Douglas County District Attorney Mark Jackson said.

Wilber Ernesto Martinez Guzman is set to be formally booked on murder charges in Douglas County on Tuesday.

Guzman will be arraigned on those charges 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Department 2 of the Ninth Judicial District Court, Minden.

Guzman is expected to enter pleas of guilty for the January 2019 first-degree murders of Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken with the use of a deadly weapon, as well as for the burglaries of their homes while in possession of a deadly weapon. 

These procedures follow similar pleas in Washoe County related to the murders of Reno residents Jerry and Sherry David. 

According to his plea agreement, Guzman will also admit to charges in Carson City, including three felony counts of burglary, four counts of possession of stolen property and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

In exchanged for dropping the death penalty, Guzman’s attorneys and prosecutors agree that they will recommend the maximum sentence on all counts, which includes consecutive life terms for each of the four murders. His actual sentences will be determined by the judges in the three jurisdictions.

Guzman was arrested in Carson City after investigators tracked him there using an Apple iWatch he stole from Koontz. 

Investigators recovered the firearm he used in all four shootings.

Prosecutors said the decision to drop the death penalty was made in consultation with the deceased’s families.