Court briefs for August 18, 2000

Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 | 10:31 a.m.

Woman receives 10-year sentence

A Las Vegas woman whose married lover died after she shot him in the leg was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.

Rosie Marie Jimmerson, 50, will have to serve at least four years before she is eligible for parole.

Jimmerson pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon in connection with last year's shooting of Eugene Brooks.

The two had been out drinking using Jimmerson's money and she became upset and shot him in the leg, Deputy Public Defender Howard Brooks said.

"She should not have been drinking because of her mental illness," Brooks said. "There was absolutely no intent to kill in this case. She shot him in the leg and the bullet, unfortunately, hit an artery. It was absolutely bizarre that he died."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Bowman said Jimmerson was also ordered by District Judge Mark Gibbons to pay $6,600 restitution for burial expenses.

Driver indicted in fatal crash

A Clark County grand jury indicted a 20-year-old Las Vegas man Thursday in connection with a fatal accident that took the life of his friend.

Nicholas Nava was indicted on 10 charges in the July 29 accident that killed Cesar Fernandez, 26. Among the charges are driving under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and involuntary manslaughter.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said Nava was driving between 60 and 80 mph in a 35 mph zone when he missed a curve, ran off the road and hit a North Las Vegas light pole in the 4700 block of Mitchell Street.

After the accident, Nava left the scene and was found at a nearby shopping center suffering from cuts and scrapes, Booker said.

Blood tests showed Nava had alcohol levels of 0.16 and 0.14 within two hours of the accident, Booker said.

Booker said Nava at first said Fernandez was driving the car and later, that his brother was.

Arson suspect, 11, cellmate in court

An 11-year-old arson suspect and the 12-year-old boy who allegedly sexually assaulted him in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but the hearings were closed to the public.

As a result, Chief Deputy District Attorney Bob Teuton said he is prohibited from discussing what happened in court Thursday.

The 11-year-old was arrested Aug. 2 in connection with a string of fires along Nellis Boulevard and charged with six counts of arson.

His cellmate, who was awaiting trial on burglary charges, was charged last week with sexual assault of a minor under 14 and lewdness with a minor under 14. The boy allegedly assaulted the younger boy a few days after the 11-year-old was booked into the facility.

Juvenile Judge Robert Gaston has the authority to close juvenile proceedings if he believes it is in the best interest of the child.

Two years given for racketeering

Rocco Zangari, a reputed member of a Los Angeles mob family, has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for his role in a counterfeit check scheme.

Zangari, 67, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas by Judge Phillip Pro to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty in March to one count of participating in an enterprise through a practice of racketeering.

Zangari was among 16 members of the crime family charged two years ago following a nationwide FBI investigation known as "Operation Button-down."

Carmen Milano was among the reputed crime family members charged. He pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Zangari was charged for his role in selling $75,000 in counterfeit checks to undercover agents in 1996.