Local news briefs for June 30, 2000

Friday, June 30, 2000 | 10:28 a.m.

Man in stalking case faces hearing

A man facing a life sentence for allegedly stalking comedian Jerry Lewis will have his preliminary hearing in three weeks.

Gary Benson appeared before Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis this morning for a status check. Lippis confirmed the preliminary hearing date and that Deputy Public Defender George Franzen will represent Benson.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Abbi Silver is handling the case for the district attorney's office.

Benson, who has already spent time in prison and mental health facilities 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."

Bar heist suspect sought

Metro Police are looking for a robbery suspect who they say took his time in a Friday bar heist.

The man reportedly entered the bar at 1201 Las Vegas Blvd. South and sat down and chatted with the bartender, police said. The man stayed long enough to have four beers, and then went into the restroom for five minutes before coming back out with a black handgun.

He walked around the bar, took money from the cash register and put it into a duffel bag before leaving the building, police said.

The suspect is described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 190 pounds with blond hair and hazel eyes. He had a goatee, and is believed to work near the bar.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call police at 279-3591.

NLV mayor will attend conference

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon will travel to Harvard University next month to attend a three-week conference called "Senior Executives in State and Local Government."

The July 9-28 conference will provide 75 participants training to help them assess the tasks they face in operating government agencies.