Carson City, law enforcement agencies investigate new information in threats against local judge

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office and several law enforcement agencies are investigating new information related to threats made against a Carson City judge, Sheriff Ken Furlong said Thursday.

On Wednesday, Carson City Sheriff’s Office detectives and Department of Public Safety investigators received information that an inmate at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Detention Center was being held on a 2011 felony contempt of court warrant out of Carson City.

The “tip” suggested that the suspect be interviewed regarding a four-year on-going investigation into threats made against Carson City Justice Court Judge John Tatro, said Furlong.

Carson City and DPS Investigations Division Officers transported Reno/Sparks area resident John Aston, 74, to the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, where information was provided to the investigating task force. Mr. Aston provided no substantial information to the investigators.

Throughout Wednesday and continuing on into Thursday, Investigators have been interviewing many area residents and carrying out searches based on information that was developing. Activities by investigators are on-going at several Reno, Sparks and Tahoe locations.

Processing and analysis of information and evidence collected is anticipated to be presented to the District Attorney late next week. Although a specific list of evidence items collected by investigators during the last 24-hours is not being released, a vehicle of similar make, model, and description as a vehicle sought in connection with the series of crimes was located late Wednesday night at a storage locker in Sparks. See the video here.

No arrests have been made in the threats made against Tatro.

In December of 2012, during the early morning hours, the Judge Tatro's home was the target of shot’s fired through his front door. In December of 2013, Judge Tatro received death threats on a Christmas card in the mail.

Then, in May of 2015, Deputies again responded to the Judge’s residence when a failed attempt to “fire bomb” his residence was discovered.

In mid-2016, Carson City District Attorney Jason Woodbury obtained a “DNA warrant” related to this case. This rarely issued type of warrant was based on the DNA marker evidence that was collected at two of the three incidents at the residence of Judge Tatro, however, no known suspect could be identified in law enforcement associated DNA data bases. The warrant remains nameless today.

Carson City Sheriff’s Office records reflect two prior contacts with Aston. He was cited for a minor traffic offense in 2005, and was arrested in 2011 for weapons related offenses, including carrying a concealed weapon and being in possession of a “sawed off shotgun.” The weapons charges ultimately resulted in the felony contempt of court warrant served on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, Investigators assigned to the assembled Task Force, along with District Attorney Jason Woodbury, assembled to review information obtained and to coordinate investigative leads in the case.

More this and other stories about Carson City and the region, visit www.carsonnow.org.