Nye County deputy arrested after domestic disturbance
A Nye County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested Thursday evening after police say he broke into his estranged wife’s home and held her captive there.
Deputy Royce Avena was taken into custody on charges of domestic battery, stalking, burglary and false imprisonment.
His wife told deputies that about 4:30 p.m., Avena, whom she is legally separated from and currently in the process of divorcing, came to her home uninvited and began banging on the front door.
She said Avena then went to the back of the home and forced the sliding glass door open and entered the residence. She said Avena confronted her about being with another man before physically forcing her into the master bedroom. She struck her estranged husband in the face in an attempt to get away, according to police.
Eventually, Avena left the residence on his own.
A report from the sheriff’s office notes Avena and the victim live in separate homes and that he does not have keys to the victim’s residence. Police said the couple’s children were in the home at the time of the incident and could hear their mother yelling for help.
Avena was booked into the Nye County Detention Center. He later posted bail and has since been released from custody.
Sheriff Tony DeMeo said Avena was placed on paid administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation of the incident.
