Argument Leads to Domestic Battery Conviction

A late-night argument inside a Nugget Casino hotel room ended in visible injuries, a police investigation, and a domestic battery conviction months later, according to the Sparks City Attorney’s Office.

Officers were called on Sept. 20, 2025, to follow up on a reported domestic battery that occurred the previous night at the Nugget Casino. Police spoke with the reporting party and a woman who said she had been staying in a room with her fiancé, Jose Medina-Medina.

The woman told officers the argument began after Medina-Medina found a text message on her phone and accused her of infidelity. She said he threw her phone, shattering it, then grabbed her by the throat and pulled her toward him. During the struggle, a bag on her right shoulder became tangled in his grasp, causing the strap to wrap around her right bicep and leave a bruise.

She reported that Medina-Medina punched her on the right side of the head, in her right eye, and in the ribs, and pulled her hair. Officers observed dark bruising on her head and right eye, including dark purple bruising on her upper eyelid.

The woman described one blow as “ringing her bell” and said she briefly “kind of blacked out.” After getting away, she retrieved her car from the valet and drove to a friend’s home, police said.

Officers later documented additional injuries, including red bruising with a yellow border on her neck, a U-shaped red mark on her left shoulder, two dark purple bruises on her ribs, and dark brown and red bruising on her left forearm and arm.

Investigators contacted Medina-Medina by phone and agreed to meet with officers. He admitted arguing with the woman in their room on Sept. 19, 2025, and said he yelled at her about suspected infidelity. He also admitted grabbing her by her bag and pulling her while shouting, but denied other physical contact and claimed the woman caused her own nose to bleed. Based on the totality of the circumstances, officers arrested him.

On Dec. 8, 2025, Senior Assistant City Attorney Ana Swanson represented the City of Sparks and secured a conviction against Medina-Medina on one count of domestic battery.

“This violent abuse is not tolerated in our community, and our Office will continue to seek justice on behalf of domestic violence victims,” City Attorney Wes Duncan said in a statement.

A Sparks Municipal Court judge later sentenced Medina-Medina to 180 days in the Washoe County Jail, suspended for two years on conditions.

The sentence requires Medina-Medina to serve two days in jail, complete 48 hours of community service, pay a $200 fine plus administrative assessments and a $35 domestic violence fee, and complete 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling. He must also enter the court’s compliance program with twice-weekly drug and alcohol testing, abstain from drugs and alcohol, pay $999.99 in restitution for the damaged phone, have no contact with the victim, and obey all laws.