Court briefs for January 25, 2001

Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001 | 9:18 a.m.

Man sentenced for gang-related death

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a September 1996 shooting death.

Richard Barrientos was convicted of first-degree murder in February in the death of Gary Linzy, 20. He was also convicted of attempted murder for shooting Antonio Figueroa, 18, for which he received a nine- to 40-year prison term.

According to prosecutors, Barrientos and two other gang members came across Linzy and Figueroa in the parking lot of the Sundance Apartments, 6500 W. Charleston Blvd., and opened fire on them because of a past altercation.

Barrientos has insisted he is innocent.

New trial sought in killing of two

A new trial is being requested for a man who earlier this month was sentenced to death for killing two men who belonged to a rival skinhead group.

According to court documents, prosecutors didn't tell Deputy Special Public Defenders Joseph Sciscento and Bret Whipple that they had identified another potential suspect in the July 1998 deaths of Lin Newborn, 25, and Daniel Shersty, 20.

John Edward Butler was convicted of killing Newborn and Shersty July 4, 1998.

Defense attorneys have since learned that prosecutors Robert Daskas and Bill Kephart received information during the trial about the identity of one of two woman who allegedly lured the victims into the desert, and they withheld it.

Carolyn Trotti testified she saw Butler's girlfriend and another woman a few doors down from Newborn's place of business a few hours before the murders. She told prosecutors later the other woman was sitting outside the courtroom.

Sciscento says he can prove the other woman was not near Newborn that night, and that could have cast doubt on Trotti's testimony.

Teen convicted in man's death

A Clark County jury convicted a 17-year-old Las Vegas boy of first-degree murder Wednesday after three hours of deliberations.

Juan Tadeo could receive a no-parole life sentence when he is sentenced by District Judge Sally Loehrer March 14.

Chief Deputy District Attorney William Koot told jurors Monday that Tadeo and his friend Jesus Celestin, 19, shot Conrad Sandoval, 25, to death after he flirted with Celestin's girlfriend and flashed a large sum of money at a party last March.

After shooting Sandoval, the pair allegedly stole his wallet and torched his car.

Tadeo was also convicted of burglary, kidnapping, robbery and third-degree arson.

Opening arguments in Celestin's case were expected to be heard this morning.