Delay sought in Williams’ trial

Kim Smith

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

Jessica Williams' defense attorney has asked the Nevada Supreme Court to delay next week's trial.

Williams faces six counts each of involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance, and reckless driving. She also faces one count each of possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

She was behind the wheel of her father's van last March when it left Interstate 15 and slammed into a group of teenagers, killing six of them. The teenagers were performing court-ordered community service by picking up roadside trash.

Williams' attorney, John Watkins, argues that Clark County, not Williams, is responsible for the deaths because it stationed the teens in a dangerous area. District Judge Mark Gibbons, however, ruled several months ago that the county's culpability will be determined through a civil lawsuit brought by the teens' parents.

On Wednesday Watkins filed a motion asking all of the justices to review and reverse Gibbons' decision.

According to Watkins' motion, Clark County admitted its negligence in the matter and Gibbons should have taken that into consideration.

The Sun reported that in June, Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section issued five safety violation citations and fined the county $3,150 as a result of the accident.

The agency alleged that the Clark County Risk Management and Safety Office failed to provide safety devices, protective equipment and training to those working at the accident scene.

The county opted to pay the fines, but officials told the Sun they were not accepting responsibility for the accident. They said that because the clean-up program no longer exists, fighting the fines would be pointless.

It is unclear how long the Supreme Court will take to make its decision.

Prosecutors allege the 21-year-old exotic dancer passed out at the wheel of her father's van as the result of Ecstasy and marijuana.

Watkins contends Williams was not impaired by the drugs, but simply fell asleep and drifted off the road.

Killed in the accident were Scott Garner Jr., 14, Alberto Puig, 16, Anthony Smith, 14, Rebeccah Glicken, 15, Jennifer Booth, 16, and Malena Stoltzfus, 15.

If the Nevada Supreme Court takes no action, jury selection in the case will begin Monday.

If convicted, Williams could face up to 120 years in prison.

Williams remains in the Clark County Detention Center on $5 million bail.