Court briefs for June 23, 2000

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

Orthodontist in court appearance

Orthodontist Steven D. Yatrofsky, 54, appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court Thursday on four felony charges for Medicaid fraud.

The Nevada attorney general's office alleges that Yatrofsky improperly billed Nevada Medicaid for services that were either partially or never performed.

Man arraigned, faces nine counts

A 24-year-old Las Vegas man who police say tried to take bar patrons hostage Monday but was instead beaten by them will remain in jail without bond, for now.

Brian Kennison was arraigned by Justice of the Peace James Bixler Thursday morning after prosecutors filed a nine-count criminal complaint against him.

Kennison faces charges of burglary, kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and coercion in connection with Monday's incident at a PT's Pub on South Nellis Boulevard.

When police called the bar, Kennison reportedly told the dispatchers not to bother him, and when the police arrived, he told them he would kill the hostages unless the officers left him alone.

An employee and some of the other hostages jumped Kennison when he forced a woman to disrobe and he began fondling her, police said.

Bixler set a July 6 preliminary hearing date in the case.

Hearing scheduled for 17-year-old

A $200,000 bond has been set for a 17-year-old Las Vegas resident accused of taking part in a June 3 slaying.

Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis set the bond for Tyree Knight this morning and she also set a preliminary hearing date of July 6.

Knight was booked into the jail Saturday on murder charges in the death of Travior Hampton, 25, at the Harbor Island apartments, 370 E. Harmon Ave.

Knight was arrested when visiting his half-brother Markus Weatherspoon at the Clark County Detention Center. Weatherspoon is suspected of participating in the robbery last week of a Macayo Vegas restaurant that ended in the shooting of Metro Police Officer Pete Rossi.

Benson declared competent for trial

A man facing a life sentence for allegedly stalking comedian Jerry Lewis has been declared competent to stand trial.

Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis this morning scheduled Gary Benson's preliminary hearing for July 20.

Benson, who has already spent time in prison for stalking Lewis, was arrested in May in Wyoming after Lewis received a letter at his Las Vegas home that read "Dear Jerry, Your Dead." The letter was signed, "Your friend, Gary Benson."