Court briefs for August 13, 2001

Monday, Aug. 13, 2001 | 11:04 a.m.

Racketeering, theft charges are filed

A Las Vegas auto transporter was indicted Friday on felony racketeering and theft charges in an alleged failure to transport vehicles after accepting payments.

Katherine Ann Carter was indicted by a Clark County grand jury on one count of racketeering, four counts of theft by false pretenses and one count of theft by false pretenses against a victim 65 years or older.

Those who believe they have been victims of auto transport fraud are asked to call the attorney general's office in Las Vegas at 486-3194 or Carson City at (775) 687-6300.

Las Vegas couple enter guilty pleas

A Las Vegas couple pleaded guilty on Tuesday to money laundering and tax charges related to cocaine distribution.

Martin Slatsky pleaded guilty to money laundering and evading federal income taxes on income received from the illegal distribution of cocaine in 1997. Tammara Slatsky pleaded guilty to making and subscribing a false federal tax return for the tax year 1995.

Bail set in death of child

District Judge Mark Gibbons Friday set $100,00 bail for a Las Vegas woman who faces a second trial in the March 1997 death of a toddler.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Vicki Monroe had asked Gibbons to set Alicia Wegner's bail at $1 million, arguing her conviction was overturned because of a technicality rather than doubts about her guilt. But defense attorney Robert Langford said the Nevada Supreme Court's decision means his client is again innocent until proven guilty.

Authorities believe Wegner, a child-care worker, beat 14-month-old Kierra Harrison so severely that her skull was fractured.

Wegner's original attorneys tried to convince jurors that the child was injured by her parents and those injuries were exacerbated by a minor fall at Wegner's home.

Wegner's second trial is set for April 15.

Bail rejected for Panaca woman

A Panaca woman accused of murder in the mutilation death of a Las Vegas man will not get to go home.

District Judge Valorie Vega said Friday that a Las Vegas justice of the peace pro tem erred when he said Kirstin Lobato, 18, could use an annuity for her bail because the annuity can't be converted into cash until December 2002.

Lobato will be held without bail until her arraignment Aug. 21, when the issue will be discussed again.

Lobato has been charged with murder in the July 8 death of Duran Bailey, 44.

Bailey's mutilated body was found near a trash bin on West Flamingo Road.