Court briefs for June 1, 2000

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 11:39 a.m.

Plea in slaying over pups

One of three men involved in the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man over a litter of puppies last summer has entered a plea agreement that could result in probation.

Defense attorney Thomas Michaelides said Ismael Rua Vargas agreed to plead guilty to an accessory to a felony after the fact charge in District Judge John McGroarty's courtroom Wednesday.

In return, Michaelides said prosecutors have promised to recommend that Vargas, 20, get probation for his role in the July 9 death of Deangelo Jackson.

McGroarty is scheduled to sentence Vargas July 11.

Metro Police homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said that the shooting was a result of an argument over a litter of pit bull puppies. Apparently, the men involved had agreed to split the puppies up before they were born, but when three of the six puppies died, they could not decide who should get which puppies.

Adam Aguilar, 22, and Eliodoro Cabrera Jr., 20, are awaiting trial on murder conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and a firearms charge.

LV man gets life sentence

A Las Vegas man already serving three life sentences was given another Wednesday, but this time he won't be eligible for parole.

The same jury that convicted Darris Taylor of robbery and first-degree murder in the death of Charles Melvin Rayford, 28, last week sentenced him Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder.

District Judge Mark Gibbons will determine Taylor's sentence on the robbery charge on July 13.

Charges dismissed in killings

A Las Vegas gang member already serving life sentences for two murders will not have to face trial in two other deaths unless prosecutors can come up with more evidence.

The Clark County district attorney's office agreed to dismiss without prejudice Wednesday two murder charges pending against Bryan Keith Robinson, 22.

Defense attorney Scott Bindrup said that should investigators find more evidence in either of the cases, prosecutors can refile charges against Robinson.

All four murders that Robinson was charged with took place within a three-month period in 1996 and shortly after he moved to North Las Vegas from Compton, Calif.

Robinson is serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the death of Tracy Kennedy, 19, and is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years for the death of Germaine McKines, 17.

Robinson is appealing those cases.

Coach pleads on sex counts

A former youth league baseball coach charged with 39 sex-related counts entered a plea agreement Wednesday that guarantees he will spend at least 20 years in prison.

Garen Martin Pearson, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault with a minor under 14, one count of sexual assault with a minor under 16, one count of lewdness with a minor under 14 and one count of open and gross lewdness.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Tom Carroll said each of the seven counts represents the seven victims Pearson was formally charged with victimizing. Two additional victims are expected to testify at Pearson's sentencing Aug. 11.

The plea agreement calls for Pearson to get a minimum sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years, but District Judge Michael Douglas could choose to give him a lengthier sentence.