Chase Aaron Henderson
A Minden man facing a May 2025 trial in the 2023 robbery of the COD Casino was sentenced Tuesday to 2-5 years in prison for punching another inmate in the face four times.
Chase Aaron Henderson, 34, admitted to punching Jessie James Avalos on New Year’s Eve 2023. A charge of drug possession in the jail was dismissed against Henderson as part of a plea deal.
Henderson could have faced up to six years in prison.
Attorney Christopher Day argued that if the battery had occurred in a parking lot it would have been a misdemeanor in asking for a 12-30-month sentence and that he Henderson remain in Douglas County custody until the May trial.
Prosecutor Chelsea Mazza asked for the maximum sentence, citing Henderson’s extensive prison record. Henderson declined to comment.
District Judge Tod Young asked the jail not to transfer Henderson to the prison, where it would be more difficult for him to work with his attorney in preparation for the robbery trial with Andrew Toomey.
But whether that occurs will depend on Henderson’s behavior in the jail over the next seven months.
Henderson and Toomey are accused of the 4 a.m. July 14, 2023, robbery of the casino located on Esmeralda Avenue.
Toomey is represented by attorney Max Stovall.
The trial was originally scheduled for Sept. 18, but Henderson’s attorney died in July forcing its postponement until May 7-16, 2025.
Toomey and Henderson are each facing charges of principal to attempted murder of a peace officer, robbery with a deadly weapon, principal to firing a weapon at an occupied vehicle and five counts of kidnapping.
Henderson is also facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery by a parolee on a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
They are accused of taking $40,000 before allegedly hopping into a blue and white PT Cruiser. According to court documents, they were pulled over by a deputy on County Road and Henderson allegedly came out shooting, firing three shots into the patrol car.
Both men are in custody, with Henderson being held on $2.5 million bail and Toomey’s bail set at $1 million.
