News briefs

Friday, March 3, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

Prison employee, inmate wed and sue

A former Nevada Department of Prisons employee who married a Warm Springs Correctional Center inmate has filed a complaint against the state because officials won't let her visit her husband.

According to the complaint, Dreana Davis, the state initially wouldn't let her visit her husband at the Carson City facility because she wasn't a member of his "immediate family."

Later, the state denied her visitation rights because officials claimed the relationship between Dreana Davis and Damon Davis began while she was still employed at the prison.

The state's actions are "arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law," and if the court does not act, Dreana Davis will be "irreparably harmed," the complaint states.

Dreana Davis left the employment of the state in April 1998 and married Damon Davis in December 1999.

The Department of Prisons has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

Nasty fall caused by a wandering man

A Las Vegas woman who slipped and fell at a city fitness center when a man walked in on her as she was changing clothes has filed a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Department of Parks and Leisure Activities and the city of Las Vegas.

According to the lawsuit, an unidentified man walked from a weight-lifting room into a women's locker room at the Chuck Minker Sports Complex on June 6, 1999.

Yolanda Garcia screamed and "while hurrying to cover herself and go for help, she slipped and fell," causing injuries to her body, the lawsuit states.

The door adjoining the two rooms was unlocked and the sign on the door simply said "Lockers."

"The city knew it could mistakenly route men into the women's area," the lawsuit states.

Garcia is seeking unspecified damages.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Garcia by Las Vegas attorney Bruce Tingey.

Man pleads in $433,000 fraud case

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas man has pleaded no contest to a reduced misdemeanor count of securities fraud in which six investors lost $433,740 in Southern Nevada.

Under the plea agreement, Gregory Olson, 35, must repay the investors one-third of the loss within six months. Deputy Attorney General Matthew Gabe said if Gibbons doesn't make the deadline the original felony charges of racketeering, securities fraud, selling unregistered securities and obtaining money under false pretenses would be reinstated.

Gabe said sentencing by District Judge Mark Gibbons has been delayed until Sept. 7. If Olson complies with the conditions of repayment, then sentencing will take place. If he fails, the case will go to trial.

The plea by Olson was to a count of conspiracy to sell unregistered securities.

Gabe said the charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the securities division of the secretary of state's office. He said Olson represented to investors he would generate profits at high rates of return through purchasing, developing, rehabilitating, financing and reselling real estate in Las Vegas.

NLV man charged in February killing

A 48-year-old North Las Vegas man was charged Thursday in connection with a slaying in the 3300 block of Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas Police said.

Albert "Big Nose" Reed was charged with murder for the Feb. 21 shooting death of 54-year-old James Clark, said Lt. Chris Larotonda, police spokesman.

Clark was found dead in a grassy area in front of an apartment complex at 3301 Civic Center Drive about 1:55 a.m. Feb 21. The shooting may have occurred over money and a previous drug deal, Larotonda said.

NDOT decides on construction firm

CARSON CITY -- Morrison Knudsen Corp. of Boise, Idaho, Thursday submitted the apparent low bid of $33,678,644 to widen sections of Interstate 15 and Sahara Avenue to eliminate a major traffic bottleneck in Las Vegas.

Four other bids submitted to the state Transportation Department ranged up to $35.6 million. The estimate by the state for the job was $32,541,758.

Work is scheduled to start in the spring with the contract calling for 460 working days.

Reid solicits on behalf of DOE workers

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., asked President Clinton to compensate all U.S. Department of Energy workers, including Nevada Test Site employees, who became injured or ill from Cold War nuclear weapons experiments.

"I stand ready to take the lead in drafting and passing legislation to make good on the federal government's moral obligation to compensate those Americans who sacrificed their health, and in some cases their lives, to help the United States prevail against the Soviet Union in the Cold War," Reid said Thursday.

Proposed legislation has workers exposed to beryllium dust at Paducah, Ky., and Oak Ridge, Tenn., covered for their injuries.

Yucca comment period is extended

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., has asked the U.S. Department of Energy to extend its deadline for public comments on proposed siting guideline changes for a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Bryan asked the DOE for 75 extra days so the DOE can receive written comments after it published an incorrect address.