Kidnapping suspect enters plea in gun case

Monday, Nov. 6, 2000 | 11:42 a.m.

A Las Vegas man being investigated by federal agents in connection with the disappearance of a 6-year-old boy two decades ago has pleaded innocent to unrelated charges in U.S. District Court.

Jerald Howard Burgess, 63, entered the plea Friday to charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. A Dec. 18 trial has been scheduled.

Burgess was arrested Oct. 12 after an 18-month investigation by the FBI. Authorities allege Burgess sold an undercover agent two guns and ammunition while offering to dispose of a body.

The FBI continues to investigate the 1978 disappearance of Cary Sayegh, son of a wealthy Las Vegas businessman. A $500,000 ransom demand was phoned to the boy's parents the day he disappeared, but the boy has never been found.

A former employee of the boy's father, Burgess became a suspect in the disappearance and was charged with kidnapping in 1981. A Clark County jury acquitted him of the kidnapping, but Burgess was sentenced to seven years in a federal prison on unrelated charges.