Preacher gets court sermon about towing, selling stolen cars
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 9:44 a.m.
A North Las Vegas preacher probably knew the Ten Commandments prohibit stealing, but a careful reading apparently didn't say anything about towing away stolen vehicles and selling them for a little extra cash.
For Seward Victorian and the Church of the Lord Jesus, it's going to be hard to continue what District Judge Stephen Huffaker characterized as "kind of an unusual business for a church."
Huffaker on Monday approved the seizure of the church's 1990 GMC pickup that was outfitted as a tow truck. Victorian had used the truck to raise money for the church by picking up abandoned cars and selling them for salvage.
The truck was seized after Victorian's guilty plea to a gross misdemeanor charge of attempted forgery of a bill of sale for a stolen 1988 Chevrolet that he sold to a scrap yard for $50.
Vehicles or property directly connected to crimes are subject to forfeiture under Nevada law.
The church's lawyer, Randall Pike, argued in court that the state went too far in seizing the church's truck because it cuts off a source of revenue needed by the church, located at Bartlett Street and Lexington Avenue.
Deputy Attorney General Grenville Pridham said Victorian towed the stripped and abandoned Chevrolet in December and stored it at the church while arranging the paperwork needed to sell it.
Pridham said Victorian knew from a check with the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety that the car had been stolen, but rather than call police he falsified documents in the name of the owner and sold the car on Jan. 2.
The bill of sale was notarized by the preacher's granddaughter, as were a dozen other blank bills of sale found in Victorian's possession, the prosecutor said.
Pike characterized the behavior as "a stupid thing, no question about it," but he argued that the remaining hulk of the car was so damaged that it couldn't qualify as a vehicle under the law.
Pike said after the hearing that he probably will appeal the ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Corrections officer with Metro killed in U.S. 95 crash
- The pull of a drug, a push to the brink
- System fails to catch contractor’s family tie with county
- Where to watch UFC 106
- UNLV and Southern Illinois will be guarded tonight
- Was there an ulterior motive in parking the stripper-mobile?
- Reid clears major health care hurdle, daunting weeks ahead
- Harry Reid’s hopes hitched to health care reform bill
- Notebook: The Shark and LJ circle
- Politicians waste no time spinning latest jobless numbers
Blogs
Culture and Entertainment
UFC 106 walk-in music: Griffin changes his tune, secures win over Ortiz
The Kats Report
For props, Lewis Black needs only his manic delivery and torrid material (7 Comments)
Elsewhere
Sands China raises $2.5 billion in Hong Kong IPO (2 Comments)
Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR? (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: And then there were four
Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple
- Live chat
- Tuesday, noon PST
- Chat with Krista Creelman
- Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question
Calendar »
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
-
The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple
The Square Apple
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
-
Rhumbar presents Pink Sugar Mondays
The Mirage Hotel and Casino
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati














