Casino robber gets 130 years in prison

Kim Smith

Wednesday, March 14, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

When given the opportunity to speak at his sentencing hearing Tuesday, Treasure Island robber Reginald Johnson declined. That didn't stop him from mouthing off during the rest of his hearing.

In the minutes before Johnson was sentenced to 130 years for robbing the hotel-casino three times, the 27-year-old made sexually explicit suggestions to a prosecutor, threw a court file across a desk and laughed while watching himself shoot a security guard on videotape.

Extra security was already in place, because Johnson threatened Deputy District Attorney Phil Brown's life the last time he appeared before District Judge John McGroarty.

The prosecutor asked that Johnson get the maximum sentence of 72 to 180 years.

Johnson was accused last month of throwing a fellow inmate off a second-floor balcony in the Clark County Detention Center. The inmate is recovering, and Johnson faces attempted murder charges in connection with that incident.

Johnson pleaded guilty in January to robbery and attempted murder charges in connection with three incidents that took place at Treasure Island on July 12, Oct. 30 and Dec. 12.

In the first two, Johnson successfully robbed employees after striking them and firing a gun at security officers. In the third, Johnson shot a security guard in the back, then tried to shoot another casino employee through security bars that had been installed since his last robbery.

On Tuesday a videotape of the three robberies taken from different viewpoints was shown.

As the videotape began to play, Johnson asked a bailiff if he could have some popcorn.

Seconds later Johnson talked to a police detective who had to rewind the tape a few seconds to show the moments before Johnson jumped into a casino cage.

Johnson, grinning widely said, "OK. OK. That's good. I just wanted to see when I jumped over."

When the tape showed the security guard being shot, Johnson laughed and said "Gangster. Diehard gangster" and "He big enough. Put that on the record."

When Brown told McGroarty that Johnson should get the maximum sentence because he wants it, Johnson burst out "Bring it on. Bring it on."

McGroarty said Johnson has absolutely no redeeming qualities and quoted comments Johnson made to a probation officer for a pre-sentence report.

"I have not one ounce of compassion or remorse for any of the establishments or the people whom were occupants in the robberies that I committed," Johnson said in the report. "What I dread and utterly despise is I was caught."

McGroarty said Johnson went on to say "I had no reverence for the casino or its employees, and I would have killed if necessary."

When McGroarty finished reading from the report, Johnson remarked "I think the tape shows that."

Johnson will have to serve at least 52 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. However, he still faces the attempted murder charge and robbery charges in California.