City Attorney Wes Duncan Announces Domestic Battery Conviction

The Sparks City Attorney's Office has announced that its prosecutor secured a conviction against Joseph Najera, for Domestic Battery, first offense stemming from an incident that occurred on September 2^nd, 2025.

On September 2^nd, 2025, law enforcement was dispatched to a convenience store, after Sparks Police Dispatch received a call from the victim who had reported her husband, Joseph NAJERA, had pushed, punched, and choked her. She told Sparks Police Dispatch her husband left marks on her neck.

Upon arrival, the victim told the officer that she had been arguing with her husband because he is under the impression that she is seeing someone else. The victim explained she has been separated from her husband since 2024, but he still has access to her home.

The victim said NAJERA went to her residence and entered the house, demanding to see her phone. He became "enraged" when she refused to give the phone to him, and he punched her in the left cheek with his right hand. She said NAJERA grabbed her neck with both hands. The victim said she was able to breathe, but felt she had whiplash from him shaking her head back and forth. She said he continued to hold her by the throat for about two to three seconds before she was able to push him off. When the officer asked her how tightly he was squeezing her neck on a scale of one to ten, she said "probably about a four." She tried to leave out the front door of her house, but NAJERA grabbed her. She then went to the garage, and she was grabbed again. She finally gave NAJERA her phone and Apple Watch. He gave them back to her after about fifteen minutes, then left the residence. Law enforcement confirmed the incident did not occurred in front of her children because they were at school. The victim shared that NAJERA had been drinking heavily recently.

Law enforcement attempted to located NAJERA at several locations, but was unsuccessful.

On September 3rd, 2025, law enforcement responded to a residence on a previous report of a domestic battery. The reporting party informed Sparks Police Dispatch NAJERA, had just returned to their residence after a previous physical altercation occurred on September 2nd, 2025.

Another officer had performed a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of NAJERA. NAJERA stated he had been at the victim's address and wanted to confront his wife about potential infidelity. He claimed to have only had a conversation with his wife but appeared to be hesitant to provide full details on what had occurred. NAJERA denied any physical altercation occurring between himself and the victim. He stated he had taken her phone and left the residence in his vehicle to look through the phone for approximately 15 minutes. NAJERA returned to the residence to return the cell phone. NAJERA claimed he did not say a word to the victim when returning the phone and exited the residence and did not return until September 3^rd, 2025. NAJERA stated that the victim was swatting and scratching at him attempting to get her phone back. The officer observed light red markings on NAJERA's right bicep and left forearm. NAJERA also had redness on the knuckles of both hands. NAJERA was evasive during questioning and repeatedly changed his recollection of events. Another Officer asked NAJERA if the victim had any injuries on her neck or arms before their encounter. NAJERA provided a non-committed answer, claiming he did not think he noticed any injuries or bruising. NAJERA did claim that she might have had a Hickie on her neck. When questioned on how the victim had gotten injuries on her neck, NAJERA stated he did not put his hands on her like that. NAJERA changed his statement, claiming he did not put his hands on her at all. NAJERA admitted to swatting at her hands and arms because she was attempting to hit him.

The victim's injuries appeared to be consistent with finger marks from being held down and grabbed around the neck as well as redness on her face consistent with being struck.

It was determined that NAJERA was the primary physical aggressor. Due to their statements, as well as her injuries sustained, consistent with getting forcibly grabbed by the neck and arms, in addition to the redness on her face consistent with being struck, as well as the red markings on NAJERA being consistent with the victim fighting him off. Joseph NAJERA was placed under arrest for violation of NRS 200.485.1 Domestic Battery.

On June 24^th, 2026, a Senior Assistant City Attorney represented the City of Sparks and secured a conviction for Domestic Battery, first offense, against the Defendant.

"Prosecuting crimes of domestic violence continues to be top priority for the Sparks City Attorney's Office," said Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan. "Domestic violence will not be tolerated, and my office will use all of its resources to prosecute and deter this behavior in our community."

As a result of the conviction, a Sparks Municipal Court Judge rendered the following sentence:

Mr. Najera will serve 2 active days in jail, complete 48 hours of community service, pay a $200 fine plus administrative assessments, pay a $35 domestic violence fee, and complete 26 weeks of domestic violence classes. Defendant was also ordered to surrender all firearms in his/her possession.