Killer of 4 gets death sentence

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

Twenty-six months after four young men were found bound, gagged and shot to death, Donte Johnson, the last defendant convicted in their slayings, was formally sentenced to death this morning.

District Judge Jeffrey Sobel also tacked on an additional eight no-parole life sentences for four counts of kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the August 1998 killings.

Sobel sentenced Johnson after first getting into a heated argument with Deputy Special Public Defenders Joe Sciscento and Dayvid Figler.

The attorneys had asked Sobel to set aside the death penalty and hold another penalty hearing because they believe one of the judges who said Johnson should die did not read the entire trial transcript beforehand.

When Sobel denied the motion without hearing oral arguments, both attorneys strenuously objected, saying they wanted the record to be clear for the Nevada Supreme Court.

At one point, Sobel accused Figler of being a "camera hog" and being the most contemptuous attorney he has ever seen. He threatened him with contempt of court on numerous occasions.

Figler offered to walk out of the courtroom, but Sobel demanded he sit down. Figler insisted he was simply defending his client.

Johnson was convicted in June of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Tracey Gorringe, 20, Peter Talamantez, 17, and Jeffrey Biddle and Matthew Mowen, both 19.

One month later, a three-judge panel decided the 23-year-old should die. The decision went to a panel of judges after the jury that convicted him hung 11-1 for the death penalty.

Authorities believe Johnson, Sikia Smith and Terrell Young went to the house under the mistaken belief they would find thousands of dollars in cash and a large amount of drugs.

Once inside, the victims were bound and gagged and their home ransacked.

According to court testimony, Johnson shot Talamantez to death because the young man had disrespected him and because he was Hispanic. Johnson then shot the other three to avoid being identified.

The three robbers left the home with a Sony Playstation, a pager, $240 and a videocassette recorder.

Smith and Young were convicted last year and are serving no-parole life terms.

Matthew Mowen's father, David, said he believes the money spent on Johnson's appeal and incarceration should instead be given to community programs and churches in the hopes of preventing further tragedies.

"I'd like to see the (death) sentence carried out immediately," Mowen said.