Court briefs for January 29, 2001

Monday, Jan. 29, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.

Penalty phase begins for Celestin

A Clark County jury convicted a Las Vegas man of first-degree murder Friday evening.

The sentencing phase for Jesus Celestin was scheduled to begin today. He could receive a no-parole life sentence.

Chief Deputy District Attorney William Koot told jurors that Juan Tadeo and 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.

In addition to being convicted of first-degree murder, Celestin was also convicted of burglary, kidnapping, robbery and third-degree arson. All of the crimes were committed with a weapon, which calls for any sentence to be doubled.

Tadeo, too, was convicted by a jury last week. However, he has opted to allow District Judge Sally Loehrer to sentence him next month.

Supreme Court denies stay

The Nevada Supreme Court declined Friday to issue an emergency stay in the Jessica Williams manslaughter and driving under the influence trial.

Jury selection in the case was scheduled to begin this morning at 10:30.

Williams, 21, is accused in the March 19 deaths of six teenagers who were hit by a van as they picked up trash along Interstate 15.

Prosecutors allege the woman was under the influence of Ecstasy and marijuana, but her defense attorney maintains she simply fell asleep.

Defense attorney John Watkins had wanted the Supreme Court to postpone the trial to consider Clark County's role in the crash. He believes the county is to blame for the children's deaths because they were picking up trash as part of a county work program.

However, District Judge Mark Gibbons ruled that Watkins cannot address the county's role during the criminal trial.

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

If convicted, Williams could receive as much as 120 years in prison.