South Lake Tahoe jury finds man guilty of making criminal threats
El Dorado County District Attorney
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On October 29, 2025, a South Lake Tahoe jury found Brian “Keifer” Chriss guilty of two felony counts of making criminal threats.
The verdict stems from an incident on July 12, 2025, at the Red Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. On that date, an employee informed Chriss that he was violating the terms of his stay and would need to reduce his belongings or face eviction. Later that day, Chriss threatened to kill the employee, stating he would “slit her throat.”
On October 30, Judge Michael J. McLaughlin found true that Chriss had prior felony strike convictions for Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Discharge of a Firearm with Gross Negligence. The court also found that Chriss had a history of violent conduct, prior convictions of increasing seriousness, and prior prison terms.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Casey Mandrell of the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.
