Two facing trial in separate killings involving complaints of loud music

Bill Gang

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999 | 11:20 a.m.

Separate neighborhood arguments in December over loud music have ended with two men ordered to stand trial in District Court in the deaths of the music lovers.

Sixteen-year-old John "June Bug" Williams was indicted Wednesday by a Clark County Grand Jury in the Dec. 9 shooting death of a man who was having a party in an apartment across an atrium area from his.

In the other case, 45-year-old Steve Cory was ordered by Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti on Wednesday to stand trial on charges he shot a 39-year-old neighbor in the head during a final confrontation in an ongoing feud.

Evidence presented at Cory's preliminary hearing indicated the fatal argument occurred two hours after Cory first complained to apartment security personnel about loud music coming from the victim's apartment on Dec. 16.

Things had quieted down after security officers intervened, but the feud resumed and gunfire followed.

Cory surrendered to authorities a short time later.

Williams, who already had been convicted as an adult of armed robbery and was on probation, was indicted on charges of murder, firing into an occupied structure and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Williams is alleged to have confronted the 30-year-old victim, Sergio Esparaza, but the altercation ended with Esparaza slamming the door of his apartment in the 2900 block of Elm Avenue.

Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane presented evidence to the grand jury that the teenager fired several shots through the door with his .22-caliber rifle.

Police said Williams' brother witnessed the argument and tried to stop the shooting but was unsuccessful.

One of the bullets hit Esparaza in the chest.

Kane said a neighbor who lived upstairs from Esparaza had complained of loud music earlier in the evening, apparently without result. Williams lived across an atrium area from Esparaza's apartment.

Williams is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 19 in District Judge Donald Mosley's courtroom.

The teenager, who already is in custody, is being held on $145,000 bail. Wednesday's indictment replaces the need for a Justice Court preliminary hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to hold a defendant for trial in District Court.

Kane said Williams uses the alias Lasane Crooks, which is the real name of slain rap music performer and actor Tupac Shakur.