Politics, Power, and Perhaps a ''Mark''? Questions Swirl Around Belleville Wine Bar Police Report.

It started like something out of a Reno noir: an older gentleman, known for his political chatter, wine enthusiast, who enjoys conversation and an occasional glass of wine at local haunts, had an altercation at Whispering Vine on 4th Street during COVID restrictions. He felt wronged, reputationally bruised. And like any modern citizen with a gripe and a little faith in journalism, he reached out to someone with a microphone: a local podcaster with a reputation for being plugged into the Reno political scene.

But what happened next didn’t feel like storytelling. It seems a bit like strategizing.

We don’t know why, but instead of covering the man’s story, it appears the podcaster felt “threatened” and looped in two lawyers—both prominent in local politics. One sits on the Reno City Council. The other on the city’s Planning Commission. They're both part of the same law firm. Add in the podcaster and the Planning Commissioner’s spouse, and you’ve got yourself a pretty tight circle of influence.

Rather than help tell the tale this man in his 70s had reached out for, things seem to have gone terribly wrong, documents suggest someone did some digging, visiting haunts and interviewing wine bar owners—into the older gentleman himself. They looked at his finances. Noted he had some cash. They saw connections, perhaps even vulnerabilities. And suddenly, what started as a call for vindication - became a claim of harassment against the older gentleman.

Second Judicial Distrcit Court - Department 3 - Judge Tammy Riggs and Department 10 - Judge Kathleen Sigurdson.

Eventually there were two lawsuits in Second Judicial Distrcit Court - the older man represented himself pro per. In Distrcit 10, a courtroom known as one of the harshest places to try and fly solo: Judge Kathleen Sigurdson’s. For those who follow the bar association surveys, that name rings a bell. Sigurdson has repeatedly ranked at the bottom among Washoe County lawyers, and whispers of partiality—aren’t new. To remember who funded Kathleen Sigurdson’s campaign one has only to look at her Secretary of State Contribution and Expense Report - the Grand Sierra Resort’s owner. Reading the transcript, from the moment the hearing began, Judge Sigurdson’s energy shifted—and not in the older man's favor.

By the time the gavel fell, the question lingering wasn't who won, but why was this lawsuit was even brought in the first place? Was this about justice—or just a cash grab cloaked in judicial theater?

Settlement agreements were reached, the older gentleman’s money was paid and all was quiet until March 14, 2025. At the Belleville Wine Bar on 5th Street where the older gentleman went for a glass of wine on a Friday night. He sat at the end of the bar and eventually when a stool opened up moved to the bar at a more comfortable location. That was when Councilmember Reese much have spotted him, Reese was with a group of people, and the altercation ensued with the older gentleman being surrounded by Reese and two of his entourage, and a police report was filed.

Now it appears the older gentleman has gotten an attorney and wants to have his day in court. This will be an interesting story to follow.

Out of fairness and wanting to avoid the same social media barrage that was unleased by Councilmember Reese and his “followers” in March 2025 against Our Town Reno when they dared to publish Michael Leonard’s police report, we decided to sit on the documents we unearthed awaiting this rumored new lawsuit, for a couple of months—including a courtroom transcript. We also had a private message from one of the individuals involved. Picon supports Our Town Reno in their decision to publish the police report it was news, the councilmember didn’t need to approach Leonard at the bar. We have visited Belleville and spoken to staff who want to remain off the record but when you approach someone at a bar with two burly individuals there are going to be repercussions.

What we question -

• Was this a legitimate legal matter, or a manufactured payday opportunity?

• Did personal and political alliances tilt the scales of justice?

• And what happens when those tasked with shaping a city also shape its courtrooms?

In a city where influence moves fast and friendships run deep, the line between justice and strategy can be hard to see—unless you’re looking closely.

Stay tuned. The documents tell their own story, and we hope to publish them all.

ML Complaint by documents on Scribd