Former Fugitive Sentenced for Las Vegas Strip Hotel Standoff
In a courtroom on Thursday, a former fugitive from Colorado faced the consequences of his actions, as he was sentenced to pay nearly $55,300 in restitution to a Las Vegas Strip hotel and serve up to four years in prison. Matthew John Ermond Mannix, a 36-year-old resident of Golden, Colorado, expressed remorse for his actions, attributing them to a mental health crisis and a relapse into severe drug and alcohol abuse after two decades of addiction.
Mannix’s attorney, David Roger, revealed that his client had a history of using over ten illegal drugs and various prescription medications. Mannix is currently undergoing treatment for bipolar disorders and schizophrenia while in custody. The money owed to Caesars Palace has already been paid by Mannix’s family.
Mannix’s troubles began when he was arrested on July 11, following a five-hour standoff at a 29-story hotel tower located at the heart of the Las Vegas Boulevard resort corridor. During the standoff, guests were forced to evacuate a pool area due to falling glass and objects, including chairs and a desk, which ended up on building rooftops below. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
The incident was a result of Mannix’s intense drug use, leading to hallucinations and a stand-off with law enforcement. A plea agreement reached by Mannix led to his guilty pleas on charges of felony property destruction and misdemeanor negligence, with prosecutors dropping more severe felony kidnapping and coercion charges. A kidnapping conviction in Nevada can carry a life sentence.
According to the plea deal, Mannix will serve his Nevada sentence concurrently with any prison time he receives for a probation violation in a kidnapping and domestic violence case in Jefferson County, Colorado. Clark County District Court Judge Crystal Eller sentenced Mannix to a term of 19 months to four years in prison, which will enable him to participate in a prison substance abuse recovery program.
The exact location of Mannix’s incarceration remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether he will serve his sentence in Nevada or Colorado. However, Roger, Mannix’s attorney, stated that Colorado authorities are expected to take custody of his client to resolve the case in his home state.
Mannix has been in custody in Las Vegas since his surrender, being held on $750,000 bail. Authorities discovered that he had prior convictions in Colorado, including kidnapping in 2022 and property damage in 2012, and multiple individuals had court orders of protection against him. The incident at Caesars Palace, initially characterized as a hostage standoff, was the result of Mannix’s drug-induced paranoia, with no gun found on the scene. Mannix claimed the woman he was with had entered his room willingly, and the police witnessed the two having consensual sex during the standoff. The woman was not charged with any crime.