Charges dropped in murder case

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

The Clark County district attorney's office has dismissed murder charges against a Sprint employee who was accused of shooting his brother to death.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger said police had enough probable cause to arrest Charles Ramon Simon in the death of Gregory Simon, but he said he doesn't believe he could prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Charles Simon killed his brother.

Metro Police's attempt to arrest Simon at work created controversy after Sprint officials refused to provide officers with Simon's work site. Metro and Sprint officials later met to discuss Sprint's policy on releasing information to authorities.

Gregory Simon was found dead June 10 in the back yard of a neighbor's home near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Washington Avenue, according to police.

The victim's girlfriend told police that a man Gregory Simon identified as his brother had come into the yard with a gun earlier in the evening yelling about some compact discs, Roger said, though she did not see a shooting. She later picked Charles Simon out of a photo lineup.

Another witness -- a neighbor -- told police that she saw Gregory Simon drive by in a car after the argument allegedly took place, Roger said. Still others have provided Simon an alibi for the time of the argument.

Roger said that because of conflicting statements, he decided to dismiss the charges against Simon. He noted, however, that charges can be filed again should further evidence come to light.