Caesars Palace Hotel Standoff Perp Sentenced Over Room Destruction

Article ByDavid Weir

September 29, 2023

Spread the Word:

Posted in: US Casino News, Nevada Gambling News, US Gambling Crime News

A man who barricaded himself and a woman in a Caesars Palace hotel room earlier this year in a dramatic standoff with police has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Matthew John Ermond Mannix, a 36-year-old from Golden, Colorado, was in the dock at Clark County District Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to charges of destruction and unsafe behavior, to which Judge Crystal Eller handed down a sentence of $53,000 in damages to Caesars and up to four years in prison.

The incident, which took place on July 11, saw Mannix barricading himself and his female friend in a hotel room at Caesars Palace, one of the most famous Nevada casino venues. Mannix threw furniture out of a window and loudly threatened his companion.

The incident caused a major commotion, shutting down the area for several hours, eliciting a large police response.

After his arrest, Mannix’s problems with drug abuse were revealed – including the fact he was on a methamphetamine binge at the time of the incident.

“This is a chance for you — a person who has trouble controlling their choices — to do what’s best for you,” said Eller during the sentencing, as reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Related: Howling at the Moon slot, reviewed and rated

Details of the Incident

Mannix’s actions led to a five-hour standoff with the Las Vegas police SWAT team at Caesars’ 29-story hotel tower, an iconic sight on the Las Vegas Strip.

During the incident, guests were forced to evacuate a pool area, as broken glass and items, including chairs and a desk, fell from a 21st-floor window, crashing onto building rooftops below. Some poolside guests, hearing the crash of glass, believed shots had been fired from the window, causing them to scatter.

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

The situation escalated when authorities learned that Mannix was with a woman inside the room, whom he was threatening while claiming he had a gun. This led authorities to treat the situation as a hostage standoff.

However, authorities soon realized both Mannix and the woman had been using drugs for several days, and were experiencing drug-induced paranoia at the time of the standoff. The woman, who was not charged with any crime, handed over a folding knife to the police after Mannix’s surrender. No gun was found at the scene.

Very Sorry for His Conduct

Following the incident, Mannix was arrested and faced multiple charges.

He has now pleaded guilty to and been sentenced for malicious destruction of property, and performance of an act or neglect of duty in willfully or wanton disregard of the safety for persons or property.

More severe charges, including felony kidnapping and coercion, were dropped after his plea deal. In Nevada, a conviction for kidnapping can lead to a life sentence.

Mannix was sentenced to pay nearly $55,300 in restitution to Caesars Palace and will serve a prison term of between 19 months to four years. His attorney, David Roger, highlighted Mannix’s long-standing issues with drug and alcohol abuse, pointing out that he had relapsed into severe addiction after two decades.

“Mr. Mannix is very sorry for his conduct which led to his arrest,” said Mannix’s attorney, David Roger. “He will continue to work to address his drug addiction.”

During the sentencing, Mannix expressed remorse for his actions, attributing them to a mental health crisis and his relapse into drug and alcohol abuse.

“It’s a huge wake-up call for me,” he said.

Mannix has a history of legal troubles, with previous convictions in Colorado for kidnapping in 2022 and property damage in 2012.

Multiple individuals also had court orders of protection against him. As part of the plea agreement, Mannix will be transferred to Colorado to serve his Nevada sentence concurrently with any prison time he receives for a probation violation related to a separate case in Jefferson County, Colorado.