Gang taggers hit Riverpark area

By Karen Woodmansee

Appeal Staff Writer

A stretch of sidewalk and a wall along the Riverpark subdivision are the latest canvases to hold the signature work of a local gang.

The area is near the Rolling A Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the defacing was done sometime between Feb. 8-9.

Lyon County Utilities Director Mike Workman said the county's water tanks had been tagged before, but this was the first incident near the sewage plant.

"It was just done this weekend, looks gang related," he said. "I know graffiti is everywhere and it is a sign of the times, but I can't believe the neighbors didn't see or hear something."

Lyon County Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Parsons said the graffiti looks like the same kind that has been painted on the sidewalk and industrial buildings on Red Rock Road in Mound House.

He said the tagging looks like the work of a Mound House gang that uses the tag MHB and is associated with the Sereno gang.

"The Serenos started in the California Prison system in the 1960s with the Mexican mafia," he said. "So they (MHB) are kind of the outside-of-the-prison gang of the Mexican mafia."

Parsons said he takes the graffiti very seriously, but adds that unless the perpetrators are caught in the act, it is very hard to prove culpability.

"All I can do is just keep a photo database of everything and I just investigate as best I can," he said. "In order to secure a conviction you almost have to get the kid with the can of paint in his hand."

He said tagging by gangs was an ongoing problem, and that Dayton High School was hit over the Christmas break.

Parsons said the sheriff's office needs the help of the public in order to successfully combat gangs, and the county has set up a hotline for residents to call when they see tagging or other offenses happen. That hot line is 1-866-481-3446.

"Somebody saw this happen, I have no doubt," he said. "Or someone heard it. I have people coming to me saying 'you need to get this under control' but we need help doing it. If someone sees something they need to let us know."

If a tagger is caught, the seriousness of the charge depends on the amount of damage to the property.

For damage that amounts to less than $250, the crime is a misdemeanor; for $250-$5,000, it's a gross misdemeanor and for more than $5,000, it's a felony, Parsons said.

Also, if a suspect is identified, and the crime is deemed a felony, an added gang enhancement could be applied, though Parsons said that's not likely.

"For $5,000, that takes quite a bit of paint," he said.

Another issue is who is responsible. Parsons said on the police report the county is listed as the victim.

The sidewalk is definitely the county, he said, but was unsure who was responsible for the wall.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@ nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.

You can Help

Report crime in Lyon County by calling the hotline at 1-866-481-3446.