Repeat Offender Released by Las Vegas Judge Now Faces 27 New Felony Charges in 36th Arrest

Just days after Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill drew national acclaim and attention for defying a judge’s order to protect the public from a dangerous career criminal with 35 prior arrests, that same offender is back behind bars—this time on 27 fresh felony charges.

Joshua Sanchez-Lopez, 36, was re-arrested Wednesday by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, marking his 36th arrest overall. According to LVMPD and court records, the new charges stem from an investigation into stolen mail at an apartment complex. Detectives discovered Sanchez-Lopez in possession of stolen financial information, fake IDs, a fraud lab setup, and methamphetamine.

The charges include:

• Child Abuse or Neglect

• Possession of Documents or Personal ID to Commit Forgery (13 counts)

• Obtain Credit or Debit Card Without Cardholder’s Consent (10 counts)

• Possess Financial Forgery Lab for Unlawful Act

• Mail Theft

• Possession of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance (less than 14 grams)  

This latest bust comes after a high-profile standoff between the sheriff’s office and Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Eric Goodman. In January, Sanchez-Lopez was arrested on grand larceny charges involving a stolen vehicle. Goodman set bail at $25,000 and ordered his release to Metro’s high-level electronic monitoring program. Sheriff McMahill refused, citing Sanchez-Lopez’s extensive criminal history—including a prior conviction for involuntary manslaughter, repeated failures to appear in court, violations of electronic monitoring, high-speed police chases, and even pointing a handgun at an officer. Metro determined he posed an “unreasonable risk to public safety.” Judge Goodman threatened to charge McMahill with contempt.

When Metro stood firm, Judge Goodman shifted Sanchez-Lopez to the court’s own pretrial release program, which also uses GPS monitoring. That decision allowed the repeat offender back onto the streets—exactly as the sheriff had warned against.

“I’m tired of it,” Sheriff McMahill said in response to the latest arrest. “I don’t know how else to bring this to the public’s attention. This is not effective management of the criminal justice system.”

Governor Joe Lombardo Weighs In

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a former Clark County Sheriff himself, has publicly backed Sheriff McMahill throughout the dispute. In a statement posted on X in response to Sheriff McMahill’s defiance, Lombardo said: “Sheriff McMahill and the men and women of Metro are doing exactly what they’re sworn to do: protect the public. When repeat violent offenders are ordered back onto our streets, law enforcement has a duty to speak up and push back. I fully support LVMPD’s decision to take this issue to the Nevada Supreme Court and fight for public safety. I stand with law enforcement.”

Sheriff McMahill and the men and women of Metro are doing exactly what they’re sworn to do: protect the public.

When repeat violent offenders are ordered back onto our streets, law enforcement has a duty to speak up and push back.

I fully support LVMPD’s decision to take this…

— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) March 16, 2026

Following Sanchez-Lopez’s re-arrest on Wednesday,  Lombardo posted again: “This is exactly what law enforcement warned would happen — and it did. A repeat violent offender was released and has now been arrested again. That is unacceptable. Sheriff McMahill and Metro were right. I stand firmly with LVMPD as they fight to keep our communities safe.”

This is exactly what law enforcement warned would happen — and it did.

A repeat violent offender was released and has now been arrested again. That is unacceptable.

Sheriff McMahill and Metro were right. I stand firmly with LVMPD as they fight to keep our communities safe.

The… https://t.co/sBQOGNHoH8

— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) March 19, 2026

Lombardo’s comments contrast sharply with the silence from Nevada’s “top cop” Attorney General Aaron Ford on the issue, as noted in several reports and public statements by Lombardo’s campaign team.

While @JoeLombardoNV stands with Sheriff McMahill and @LVMPD, Aaron Ford is silent.

Despicable and disqualifying. https://t.co/q0WhiIdwIk

— Elizabeth Ray (@elizabethrray) March 18, 2026

Metro has petitioned the Nevada Supreme Court for clarity, arguing state law gives the sheriff final say on electronic monitoring to protect the public. The public defender’s office counters that judges hold that power. That legal fight continues even as Sanchez-Lopez sits in custody awaiting his next court date.

As we previously reported, Sheriff McMahill’s principled stand against releasing this 35-time offender drew widespread support from law enforcement leaders and concerned citizens across the country who are fed up with revolving-door justice. Now, with Sanchez-Lopez facing 27 more serious charges—including child abuse and widespread fraud—the sheriff’s concerns have been tragically validated, and Governor Lombardo’s endorsement reinforces the priority of public safety over unchecked releases.

The Nevada Supreme Court’s eventual ruling could have far-reaching implications not just in Clark County, but for how pretrial release is handled statewide. In the meantime, Sanchez-Lopez remains in custody, and Metro continues its work to hold him—and others like him—accountable.

This is a follow-up to our recent reporting on the Clark County Sheriff’s defiance of the Las Vegas Justice Court order.