Court briefs for August 11, 2000

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

Suspect facing psychiatric test

A Las Vegas man accused of taking a murder contract out on his wife when she refused to help him kill another man has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

A 3-year-old indictment says Morris Wade threatened his wife with a shotgun when she refused to withdraw $5,000 from their bank account so he could pay a hitman to kill a man who was going to testify against him in a misdemeanor case.

Wade was hospitalized in May because he was suffering from visual and auditory hallucinations and an ulcer problem.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wall said Wade's physical problems stabilized enough to bring him into court Thursday for a status check, but Wade refused to get dressed to appear before District Judge Michael Douglas.

December trial set for LV man

A December trial date has been set for a Las Vegas man indicted last week in a sexual abuse case involving five children at a state-run home for emotionally handicapped children.

Rick Taylor, 37, will face 18 sex-related counts when he goes to trial Dec. 11 in District Judge Joseph Bonaventure's courtroom.

Taylor was arrested after a young boy reported he made sexual advances toward him as he was bathing at the Oasis Residential Treatment Center, 6171 W. Charleston Blvd.

Taylor had worked at the facility from June 1998 until June of this year.

According to prosecutors, police are looking for other possible victims at similar facilities in Utah, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City.

Man sentenced to life in prison

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced to life in prison by District Judge Donald Mosley Thursday in connection with a September 1999 sexual assault at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Juan Garcia Diaz must serve at least 44 years before he will be eligible for parole.

According to police, the 57-year-old victim was followed into a bathroom at the Hilton by Diaz, who beat, robbed and raped her.

Diaz was convicted of six felony counts during a jury trial in June.