A Reno man involved in a lengthy armed standoff with police in 2021 that prompted nearby school lockdowns has been convicted and now faces up to 16 years in prison, according to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office.
Thomas Balboni Jr., a Tier III sex offender, was found guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Silencer, and Resisting, Obstructing, and/or Delaying Public Officers with Use of a Firearm. Prosecutors said Balboni had been out of compliance with sex offender registration since 2019.
In July 2021, law enforcement received a tip regarding Balboni’s whereabouts. Parole and Probation officers, along with the Regional Sex Offender Unit, began surveillance.
In August 2021, detectives with the Repeat Offender Program and the Reno Police Department SWAT located Balboni at a home where a child was present. Authorities waited for the child to leave for school before attempting to execute an arrest and search warrant.
Despite multiple commands to surrender, Balboni refused to leave the garage, arming himself with a rifle and roughly 80 rounds. After several hours, he eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.
Police discovered a silencer, multiple operable firearms, ammunition, and magazines in his possession.
During the standoff, precautionary Code Yellow lockdowns occurred at Wooster High and Corbett Elementary schools. No injuries occurred, and officers evacuated three people, a man, a woman, and a child, from the home before the arrest. Classes at both schools returned to normal operations shortly thereafter.
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