Las Vegas man found not guilty in killing

Monday, April 10, 2000 | 11:08 a.m.

A Clark County jury acquitted a Las Vegas man Friday on all charges related to a 1998 slaying.

Defense attorney Chip Siegel said Charles Damion Vonlewis was cleared of murder, burglary and attempted robbery charges after the jurors deliberated about seven hours.

According to police, Ronald Pradon Jr. was with four friends in his apartment when a neighbor knocked on the door and was followed in by two armed men with bandanas covering their faces.

Pradon died after being shot in the chest while scuffling with one of the armed men.

Sam Ivey, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted robbery in connection with Pradon's death and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years.

Siegel said part of the reason the jury found Vonlewis not guilty was the fact Ivey testified during the trial that Vonlewis wasn't involved in the incident.

Also, Siegel said there wasn't enough physical evidence to corroborate the testimony of several informants used in the trial.

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