News briefs for April 13, 2001

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

Two boys in critical condition

Two boys remained in critical condition this morning after a fire gutted their home early Thursday.

Hugo Reyes, who turned 8 years old on the morning of the fire, and his 13-year-old brother, Nicholas, were in University Medical Center's children's intensive care unit this morning.

An unattended candle is blamed for the blaze at the house in the 5500 block of Seabaugh Avenue, near U.S. 95 and Jones Boulevard, about 5 a.m. Thursday. The boys apparently were asleep and being watched by their 16-year-old sister at the time of the fire. The boys' father was working at the time of the fire, officials said.

The 16-year-old sister and a neighbor tried to rescue the boys before Las Vegas firefighters arrived, but were unable to reach them. The sister was treated at UMC for smoke inhalation and released, officials said.

Office manager plea bargains

The former office manager of a prominent Las Vegas law firm will be sentenced July 27 for embezzling more than $2 million from his employer.

Stevan Millet accepted a plea bargain Thursday, pleading guilty to filing false tax returns for four years -- 1996-99 -- and transporting stolen property across state lines.

The stolen property charge, a spokesman for the Internal Revenue said, stems from a wire transfer of funds to Idaho.

An IRS spokesman said Millet, who worked for Jones Vargas from 1985-2000, "evidently led a fast lifestyle, including gambling. Nothing has been recovered."

Millet faces a maximum three years and a $250,000 fine on each of the five counts when he goes before Federal Judge Roger Hunt for sentencing.

Millet also must make restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Slotnick prosecuted the case that was investigated jointly by the IRS and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Bar-S Foods recalls meat

CLINTON, Okla. -- Bar-S Foods Co. is voluntarily recalling 14.5 million pounds of meat and poultry that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Department of Agriculture said Thursday.

Recalled products include lunch meats, whole hams, sausages, hot dogs and corn dogs.

Brand names for the recalled products are: Bar-S, Bar-S Extra Lean, Coronado, Chuck Wagon, E-Z Carve and Thrifty.

The plant was closed last week as the company tried to rid it of the bacteria.

The products were sent to retail stores, delis and other outlets in Nevada, as well as other sites throughout the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the South Pacific, the USDA said.

St. Louis man indicted

ST. LOUIS -- A federal grand jury has indicted a St. Louis man for allegedly taking a 12-year-old girl across state lines -- including into Las Vegas -- to prostitute her for money, U.S. Attorney Audrey Fleissig said Thursday.

Eugene L. Shavers, 41, faces six counts of violating the Mann Act, also known as the White Slave Traffic Act, Fleissig said. The federal law makes it a crime to knowingly transport a minor across state or international borders with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

According to the indictment, Shavers met the 12-year-old runaway in north St. Louis and persuaded her to come with him to East St. Louis, Ill., where the two allegedly had sex.

Shavers is accused of persuading her to accompany him to California and then to Las Vegas, where he allegedly had sex with her and prostituted her for money, the indictment said.