Crime briefs for April 2, 2001

Monday, April 2, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

Pair guilty in killings

Two Las Vegas men were convicted of multiple crimes Friday in connection with the October 1996 deaths of a local couple.

Sammy Charles McCowan, 31, and Jason Alexander Taylor, 21, face life sentences in the deaths of John Christopher Person, 26, and his girlfriend, Lori Anne Montori, 31.

The pair were convicted of two counts each of first-degree murder and burglary, as well as second-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, all of which were committed with a deadly weapon.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wall said authorities believe the pair went to Person's home to retrieve tire rims he thought Person had stolen.

When they arrived, a fight broke out, and Person grabbed Taylor, then 16, held him at knifepoint and ordered McCowan to leave.

Taylor reached around and shot Person to death and then left, Wall said. Once outside, McCowan ordered Taylor to go back inside to kill Montori, who was on the phone to 911.

Wall said jurors heard a portion of the recorded 911 call -- one of the most "chilling" pieces of evidence he has ever heard.

The defendants waived their right to have a jury sentence them. District Judge Lee Gates will sentence them May 30.

Man holds up Henderson branch

Henderson Police are investigating a Friday afternoon robbery at the Nevada State Bank, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway.

Police say a man told the tellers he had a gun and demanded that he be given all of the large bills in the drawers. The robber fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.

He is described as white, 50 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 235 pounds with a gray mustache. He was wearing a green hat, green polo shirt and khaki pants.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Henderson Police at 565-8933 or Secret Witness at 385-555.