Reno Casino Rock Attacks Perpetrator Gets 40- Year Sentence

Article ByDavid Weir

May 11, 2023

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Posted in: Nevada Gambling News, US Casino News

A Nevada man who hit three strangers in the head with rocks during a series of unprovoked attacks at casinos in Reno and Sparks in March 2022 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

On Wednesday, Troy Kellet, 50, pleaded guilty to battery with the use of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in substantial harm.

He had attacked three different patrons in three different Nevada casinos last year between March 7 and March 13. In the most serious case, one victim received multiple skull fractures and an internal brain bleed as a result of the assault.

“Nothing short of the maximum possible sentence would serve to keep the community safe from further random acts of violence being perpetrated upon the citizens of Washoe County,” said Deputy District Attorney Brett Dieffenbach at Kellet’s sentencing.

Unprovoked Attacks

Kellet’s first attack was in the Atlantis Resort Casino in Reno on March 7, 2022. Police arrived too late to catch Kellet, who had struck a 60-year-old man in the back of the head with a rock while he was gambling. The victim required surgical staples for his injuries.

Just five days later, on March 12, officers were called to the Sands Casino in Reno after reports of an assault on the casino floor. A 31-year-old man had been hit over the head with what was described as a “10 pound rock” while gambling at a machine. Police identified Kellet from surveillance footage and soon put the two assaults together.

They didn’t have much further to investigate, as Kellet would be back committing a similar assault the very next day at the Golden Nugget in Sparks.

Here, in the most serious attack of the three, he bludgeoned a 42-year-old man with a rock in the casino bathroom. This time, police were on the scene in time to catch him. He attempted to flee, but was arrested after a short chase.

The victim survived, but required treatment for multiple fractures and a brain bleed at a specialist unit in the Northern Nevada Medical Center.

Criminal History

Kellet also had past charges for similar attacks on people from behind with a heavy object. A Reno Police report from November 2021 documents his arrest after he approached a woman from behind and hit her over the head with a metal trash can lid.

In 1995, he spent some time in prison after racially abusing two victims and attacking them with a pool cue. That time, he was also charged with battery with a deadly weapon.

After this latest sentence, Kellet will be lucky if he gets out before turning 70. His 40-year sentence has no eligibility for parole until at least 16 years have been served.

Nevada’s casinos are a globally famous tourist attraction, which can also attract ne-er do wells and those of a criminal bent.

Over the past few weeks, Nevada police have made arrests in the case of a serial casino robber, and a pair of hapless casino arsonists.