News briefs

Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 | 11:56 a.m.

Tobacco inspection results on Internet

CARSON CITY -- Parents can now check the Internet for the names of those stores in Nevada caught selling cigarettes to underaged children, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Thursday.

The information is available on the website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov) and is called "ComplianceChecker."

There were more than 141,000 inspections nationally of tobacco retailers between August 1997 to October 1999. And the names are broken down by state, city and name of store.

"This new website will allow parents and others to support those retailers who refuse to sell tobacco products to underage youth, while at the same time encourage store owners and their employees to make sure they sell such products responsibly," Del Papa said.

Nevada's last undercover operation in 1998 found only 16.8 percent of the stores checked sold cigarettes to minors.

Company owner must pay back homeowners

CARSON CITY -- Justice of the Peace William Jensen Thursday ordered a former owner of a swimming pool construction company to refund $73,000 to 11 homeowners in Southern Nevada.

Charles Noll, 62, who now lives in Sarasota, Fla., owned Esquire Pools in Henderson but it is now defunct. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of engaging in a deceptive trade practice on Jan. 4.

Esquire Pools, which was located at 3051 E. Sunset Road, abruptly closed in January 1998, without giving notice to the 11 homeowners who had pre-paid for construction of their swimming pools.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa's office filed a criminal complaint in July 1998 against Noll. District Judge Gary Redmon dismissed the case but the Nevada Supreme Court reinstated the charge.

Noll's $10,000 bail will be immediately forfeited and it will be used to pay off the homeowners on a pro rata share. Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard Linstrom said his office would then collect the remaining $63,000 from Noll to be distributed to the victims.

Jensen did not impose any jail time or a fine in the case.