Court briefs for September 22, 2000

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

Parents lose bid for therapy funding

A federal appeals court has upheld the decision of the Clark County School District that refused to provide special speech therapy to a child who was home-schooled.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that William and Catherine Hooks could not recover their cost of providing special education to their child, Christopher.

The court, in a decision written by Judge Alfred Goodwin, said states have the discretion to determine whether home schooling constitutes a private school and is eligible for special services under the federal disabilities act.

The child was deemed to be medically eligible for speech therapy services in August 1996, and the parents requested subsidized services even though the child was taught at home.

Since the case, the Nevada Legislature has changed the law to allow special education services to home-school children. But the court said the Hookses could not be reimbursed for their past cost.

Agent, dentist enter guilty pleas

A Las Vegas dentist and an Internal Revenue Service agent have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on charges stemming from a bribery scheme.

Thomas Gonzales, 50, a dentist who in 1997 owed the IRS more than $100,000 in taxes and penalties, pleaded guilty Thursday to a single charge of unlawfully giving a gratuity to a public official. Federal prosecutors charged Gonzales with giving IRS agent Donald Hyde free dental treatment and a round of golf at an exclusive club in exchange for a reduction in his taxes.

Hyde, 52, pleaded guilty Thursday to unlawfully accepting a gratuity. Conspiracy charges were dropped against both men in exchange for their pleas.

Hyde was fired by the IRS in April, the day before a grand jury indicted both men. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

Driver found guilty in accident

A Las Vegas jury Thursday found a 42-year-old man guilty of driving under the influence in a September 1999 accident that killed a motorcyclist.

Police said Jarrod Randall Straub, 20, was driving a motorcycle west on West Sahara Avenue when Mitchell Allen Blasche, who was driving in the opposite direction, collided with him while turning onto Spanish Oaks Center.

Blasche's attorney, James "Bucky" Buchanan tried to shift the blame to Straub, who he said was going 80 mph at the time of the accident.

Police maintained Straub was going between 45 and 55 mph.

Blasche is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 8. He faces between two and 20 years in prison.

Bicyclist killed in collision with car

A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty to driving under the influence Thursday in connection with a 1999 accident that took the life of a bicyclist.

Roland Garcia could receive between 4 1/2 years and 20 years in prison when he is sentenced by District Judge Lee Gates Nov. 7.

According to court documents, Garcia was westbound on Sunset Road on Oct. 10 when his car struck bicyclist David Thompson. A test revealed Garcia had a blood-alcohol content of 0.22 at the time of the accident.

Thompson was carried on the hood of Garcia's truck for a short distance before the vehicle made a rapid U-turn and left the area.

Suspect deemed competent for trial

A former New York resident accused of shooting another former New Yorker to death at the Stardust hotel-casino in February has been deemed competent to stand trial.

Anthony Cuccia, 59, has been brought back from a state mental facility in Sparks to stand trial in the death of Philip M. Greenspan, 56.

Police believe Cuccia shot Greenspan at point-blank range inside the Strip resort's sports book on Feb. 7.

Cuccia had been sent to Lake's Crossing in Sparks after it was determined he didn't understand the nature of the charges against him and he couldn't help his attorneys.

After receiving treatment, doctors have determined he now understands the charges and can help his attorneys.

Cuccia is expected to appear in Justice Court next week.