A 34-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man received the maximum 3-8 years in prison on March 19 after admitting to burglarizing vehicles.
Reece James Lindahl, 34, received consecutive terms for the thefts that ended when he was tackled while he was fleeing from a resident who caught him in the act. The tackler told District Judge Tod Young that Lindahl would say anything so he could use drugs again.
Attorney Maria Pence asked that Lindahl be sentenced to probation with mandatory treatment in the Jan. 5 thefts.
She acknowledged that he had six prior felonies, including the last two where he admitted prying open slot machines in Stateline and Carson City.
In 2019, he and another man were seen prying open a slot machine at Harrah’s with a tire iron, which earned him a burglary conviction and while he was serving time, the burglary at the Casino Fandango caught up to him.
“He has no respect for other people or their property because he has no respect for himself,” she said. “He is addicted to opiates, which so many people struggle with.”
Lindahl got off parole on Thanksgiving 2023.
Prosecutor Ric Casper said Lindahl had multiple opportunities to seek treatment.
“He’s making choices, and what he’s done is choose repeatedly to steal, and to burglarize.”
Lindahl said he has been addicted since he was 17 years old.
“I need help and I want help. I’m sorry. I had no right to take their belongings.”
Young said he believed that Lindahl was an addict, was ready to be done and needed help.
“But you keep victimizing other people,” he said.